EpiTrain IV: Course introduction Preben Aavitsland

EpiTrain EpiTrain within the EpiNorth framework Fourth in a series of courses –EpiTrain I2004 JurmalaCase-control method –EpiTrain II2005 TallinnSurveillance –EpiTrain III2006 JurmalaEpidemic intelligence –EpiTrain IV2006OsloPC for the epidemiologist Advanced epidemiology for senior epidemiologists English only Financed by –European Commission –Norwegian Barents Health Programme –Participating institutes

Teaching methods Demonstrations –Key concepts and procedures –Time for questions Individual, assisted work with a PC –A lot of assistance in English и по-русски –Using constructed datasets Group-work using a PC –Five groups of 6-7 –Constructed datasets –Facilitators will be available –Two large assigments throughout the week Surveillance data Outbreak data –Presentation on Saturday Written material and CD-ROM Schedule somewhat flexible!

Faculty and administration Preben Aavitsland, MD Norwegian Institute of Public Health Anne Mazick, MD, Epiet State Serum Institute, Denmark Barbara Schimmer, MD, MSc Norwegian Institute of Public Health Agnes Hajdu, MD Norwegian Institute of Public Health Inga Velicko, MD Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control Jolita Mereckiene, MSc Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Ireland Jurgita Bagdonaite, MSc State Serum Institute, Denmark Andrei Tulisov, MD Norwegian Institute of Public Health Stein Andresen, DDS Norwegian Institute of Public Health Elena Torgersen, MSc Norwegian Institute of Public Health Anne Marie Moe Norwegian Institute of Public Health

PC as a tool for the epidemiologist Collect and enter data –Enter in database EpiData Describe data –Tables, graphics, diagrams Excel Analyse data –Tables EpiInfo (Episheet) Present data –Text, tables, graphics, diagrams PowerPoint

Main group work - introduction Five groups of six-seven people; we have assigned you Each group elects –Chair –Secretary –Presenter (may be one of the two above) All participate in discussion –Hard, interesting and rewarding work –May divide in sub-groups for certain tasks Light facilitation by Preben, Anne, Inga, Barbara, Jurgita, Jolita, Agnes and Andrei Questions and problems also in plenary

Main group work A: surveillance Analyse data sets from the Norwegian Surveillance System (MSIS) Excel pivot table functions and graphics Present important features of the disease in PowerPoint –time trend, seasonal trend –place characteristics (place of living and place of infection) –person characteristics (age, sex, place of birth)

Topics for group work A A Campylobacteriosis in Norway 1981 – 2005 B Shigellosis in Norway 1981 – 2005 C Hepatitis A in Norway 1981 – 2005 D Malaria in Norway 1981 – 2005 E Meningococcal disease in Norway 1981 – 2005 Real (but anonymised) data sets from Norway

Main group work A: surveillance Analyse data sets from the Norwegian Surveillance System (MSIS) Excel pivot table functions and graphics Present important features of the disease –time trend, seasonal trend –place characteristics (place of living and place of infection) –person characteristics (age, sex, place of birth)

Main group work B: outbreak Analyse data from a case control study of an outbreak Filled questionnaires will be provided Create a data file in EpiData, enter and validate the data Export the data file to EpiInfo Describe the data in EpiInfo and draw an epicurve in Excel Analyse in EpiInfo (and Episheet) the association between food items and disease using odds ratios and confidence intervals. Present results of the investigation in PowerPoint

Topic for group work B Outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul infection Two day handball tournament in Grukkedalen 600 participants 16 confirmed cases, all aged Case control study: 12 cases and 36 controls All filled in questionnaires Fictious data set from Norway

Different background and experience Some are more used to PC work than others Which means: –You must ask questions –We will start from the basic –We will help each others –Facilitators will assist you Objective: Everyone will learn a lot!