EpiTrain IV: Course introduction

Preben Aavitsland

EpiTrain

• EpiTrain within the EpiNorth framework• Fourth in a series of courses

– EpiTrain I 2004 Jurmala Case-control method– EpiTrain II 2005 Tallinn Surveillance– EpiTrain III 2006 Jurmala Epidemic intelligence– EpiTrain IV 2006 Oslo PC 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, MDNorwegian Institute of Public Health

Anne Mazick, MD, EpietState Serum Institute, Denmark

Barbara Schimmer, MD, MScNorwegian Institute of Public Health

Agnes Hajdu, MDNorwegian Institute of Public Health

Inga Velicko, MDSwedish Institute for Infectious Disease

Control

Jolita Mereckiene, MScHealth Protection Surveillance Centre,

Ireland

Jurgita Bagdonaite, MScState Serum Institute, Denmark

Andrei Tulisov, MDNorwegian Institute of Public Health

Stein Andresen, DDSNorwegian Institute of Public Health

Elena Torgersen, MScNorwegian Institute of Public Health

Anne Marie MoeNorwegian 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 13-16

• 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!