| Dozent/in |
Dr. Anita Feller; Dr. Collene Anderson; Dr. Martin Brinkhof |
| Veranstaltungsart |
Seminar |
| Code |
HS261116 |
| Semester |
Herbstsemester 2026 |
| Durchführender Fachbereich |
Gesundheitswissenschaften |
| Studienstufe |
Master |
| Termin/e |
Mo, 26.10.2026, 14:15 - 18:00 Uhr, HS 8
Mo, 02.11.2026, 14:15 - 18:00 Uhr, HS 8
Mo, 09.11.2026, 14:15 - 18:00 Uhr, HS 8
Mo, 23.11.2026, 14:15 - 18:00 Uhr, HS 8
Mo, 30.11.2026, 14:15 - 18:00 Uhr, HS 8
Mo, 14.12.2026, 14:15 - 18:00 Uhr, HS 8
Fr, 15.01.2027, 13:00 - 14:30 Uhr, HS 9 (Prüfung) |
| Umfang |
2 Semesterwochenstunden |
| Inhalt |
The course consists of six block sessions. The six blocks will cover the following issues:
Block 1: Through the historical lens, students will learn to shift from individual towards population thinking. The historical perspective will particularly set the student up towards understanding the demand and rationale for the progression towards a comprehensive LCE approach.
Blocks 2 and 3: The importance of theoretical and conceptual frameworks for causal thinking; the link between study design and strength of epidemiological evidence; and an introduction to causal inference through the application of Directed Acyclic Graphs.
Block 4: This session will go more in depth on the framework of prognostic research, including the aspects of internal and external validity, and provide an overview of prognostic modelling and its applications.
Block 5: This session will introduce students to the building blocks of life course epidemiology and subsequently underscore the need to employ life course methodology to gain a comprehensive understanding of functioning, disability, and health.
Blocks 6: Bringing everything together: connecting study design to data analysis, student presentations. |
| Schlagworte |
Nachhaltigkeit |
| E-Learning |
All teaching material will be provided via the e-learning platform Moodle. |
| Lernziele |
Life Course Epidemiology (LCE) is an evolving field of epidemiology that is concerned with the long-term biological, behavioral and psychosocial processes that link adult health and disease risk to exposures during earlier time periods. LCE aims to identify how accumulation of risk over time can impact disability, disease and mortality as well as identify targets for preventive health care. LCE is vital to public health as it provides the comprehensive evidence-base needed to inform evidence-based practice and policy decisions.
Researchers involved in LCE are concerned with the development of formal, conceptual frameworks that enable a meaningful description of functioning, morbidity and life expectancy within and across populations, as well as over time. An understanding of study design; data collection and statistical analysis, in particular analysis methods for appropriately handling longitudinal data; the interpretation and dissemination of results (peer-reviewed publication); as well as implementation of results into practice is essential for the life course epidemiologist.
In the six blocks of “Longitudinal and Life Course Epidemiology,” students will learn:
1) Epidemiological theory and methodology: We explain how epidemiological approaches have evolved over the past 350 years in order to provide a reliable evidence base for medical practice and health policy. Highlights will include the shift from individual to group level thinking, and connecting cause and consequence.
2) The causal inference framework and its application through the use of Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs).
3) The framework of prognostic research and its application.
4) Insight into longitudinal and life course study methodology. |
| Voraussetzungen |
The prerequisites include a basic knowledge of epidemiology and statistics, including linear and logistic regression, as covered in the 'Statistics and Epidemiology' and 'Quantitative Methods' courses at the University of Lucerne Health Sciences program, or other equivalent courses. |
| Sprache |
Englisch |
| Begrenzung |
priority Master Health Sciences students |
| Anmeldung |
Moodle: https://elearning.hsm-unilu.ch/course/view.php?id=1023
|
| Leistungsnachweis |
Assessments will include homework exercises, a presentation in class (group work), a research proposal (group work.) and a short written exam at the end of the course (deadlines will be announced during the course).
IMPORTANT: In order to earn credits and participate at the exam registration via Uni Portal within the exam registration period is MANDATORY. As this is a block course the registration and deregistration runs from October 29 - December 9, 2026 . Further information: www.unilu.ch/en/study/courses-exams-regulations/health-sciences-and-medicine/exams/ |
| Abschlussform / Credits |
Assessments will include presentations in class, homework exercises, and a written final examination / 3 Credits
|
| Hinweise |
Attendance is compulsory (at least 5 days out of 6) as group exercises and discussions form a large part of the course. |
| Hörer-/innen |
Ja |
| Kontakt |
anita.feller@doz.unilu.ch / collene.anderson@doz.unilu.ch / martin.brinkhof@doz.unilu.ch |
| Material |
Publications and excerpts from books will serve as basis for individual reading. |
| Literatur |
Will be announced well before start of the course. |