Course description
The course will cover advanced methods and techniques aimed at reducing bias and exploring causal relationships in modern epidemiology. It will introduce the concept of the counterfactual approach for interpreting causality. Students will be taught techniques based on this approach to investigate mediating factors that contribute to causal relationships.
In many observational studies, exposure or covariates may change over time, which, if not handled correctly, can lead to significant bias. The course will teach how to treat exposure or covariates as time-varying factors using time-splits. Additionally, students will learn about Inverse-Probability-Weighting as a means to reduce bias caused by time-dependent confounding or selection. This technique offers several advantages compared to conventional methods that aim to control for systematic bias.
The course will also emphasize the distinction between effect modification and interactions, and students will gain an understanding of the importance of assessing interactions on both a multiplicative and additive scale.
Finally, the course will delve into methodologies for quantifying systematic error, such as introducing E-Values. These tools are valuable for evaluating the robustness of associations against potential unmeasured or uncontrolled confounding.
Intended learning outcomes
Gain advanced knowledge and skills in reducing bias and exploring causal relationships in epidemiological studies, including the application of the counterfactual approach and techniques for investigating mediating factors, interactions/effect modifications, time varying factors and performing quantitative bias analyses.
Teaching methods
The teaching approach will involve a combination of lectures and practical exercises, including hands-on exercises using Stata. After completion of the course, the students must hand in an assignment that contains the exercise responses from the course.
Course fee
The course is free of charge for PhD students enrolled in Universities that have joined the "Open market agreement"
For all other participants the course fee is:
DKK 1900
EURO 254,90