Class Epidemiology and Methodology Pharmacoepidemiologic

  Epidemiology focus on the identification of disease patterns in human populations, along with the variables and the factors that influence it. Epidemiological hypotheses aim to relate such factors or variables. Pharmacoepidemiology is a field of knowledge related to the impact of drugs on human populations. It applies the knowledge, methods and epidemiological reasoning to the study of the beneficial and adverse effects of the medicines, as well as their use in the population. The production of medicines on an industrial scale turn them na attractive public health resource. Advances in new drug research, along with its commercial promotion, require a rigorous assessment from prescription to use, in which the pharmacist plays a key role.

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Conceptual introduction to epidemiology Natural history of the disease Prevalence and incidence Measures of association Bias, confounding and interaction Accuracy, validity, sensitivity, specificity, predictive value Causality and causal inference Study designs Experimental and observational Sources of information and databases Relationship between the research question and the study design Practical methods in epidemiology Literature reviews and meta-analyses Quantitative and qualitative methodologies Questionnaire construction Linear regressions and logistic regression. Survival curve analysis  Drug utilization studies (DUS) Types of drug utilization studies Common biases Methods for measuring adherence to therapy and other indicators Pharmacovigilance methodologies Pharmacovigilance Types of adverse reactions and adverse events: Methods for attributing causality

During this curricular unit, the student will develop a data analysis work in order to write and present a paper, in English. In this way, students are encouraged to develop their data analysis and scientific writing skills. Together with the journal clubs to be held in selected practical classes, this approach will enable students to develop their final master's dissertation with greater autonomy. The fieldwork offers students an invaluable opportunity to immerse themselves in the realities of the pharmaceutical profession within the context of Pharmacoepidemiology, through a seminar hosted by an experienced partner organization specializing in medicine utilization studies.

Pestana, M.H., Gageiro, J. A. (2014). Análise de dados para Ciências Sociais - A Complementaridade do SPSS (6a ed.). Silabo.  Kimmel, Strom, B. (2012). Pharmacoepidemiology (5th ed.). Willey-blackell. Bonita, R., Beaglehole, R., & Kjellström, T. (2006). Basic epidemiology. World Health Organization.  Schoenbach, V. J., & Rosamond, W. D. (2000). Understanding the fundamentals of epidemiology: an evolving text. Chapel Hill: North Carolina. Dicker, R. C., Coronado, F., Koo, D., & Parrish, R. G. (2006). Principles of epidemiology in public health practice; an introduction to applied epidemiology and biostatistics.