NUTD3101 Fundamentals of Nutritional Epidemiology

2017

4.5

1 x 7-hour independent study weekly
1 x 2-hour on-line exercises weekly
4 x 1-hour on-line tutorials per semester

NUTD3200 has been successfully completed

Assignments; Tests; Reflective Journal.

This topic introduces students to the core concepts for scientifically examining relationships between nutrition and disease. Classic nutritional epidemiology studies will be reviewed in addition to providing students with an opportunity to gain the skills required to search and source epidemiological studies of relevance to nutrition. Students will be introduced to a new graduate nutritionist and follow his/her journey of discovery with support from a mentor. Key study designs will feature strongly as part of this case study, including exposure to common study design strengths and limitations.

The aim of this topic is to:

• introduce students to the core concepts of nutritional epidemiology

• introduce students to a broad variety of studies in nutritional epidemiology

• provide a framework for determining the quality of studies in nutritional epidemiology and

• encourage and foster independent learning skills.

By completion of this topic, students will be able to:

• Outline the historical development of nutritional epidemiology

• Competently source nutritional epidemiology studies from the scientific literature

• Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of methods of assessment for measurement of dietary intake and nutritional status of groups and populations

• Apply knowledge of nutritional epidemiology to differentiate between observational and experimental nutritional epidemiology

• Identify and demonstrate a thorough knowledge of basic design features of the key study designs utilised in nutritional epidemiology

• Appreciate the strengths, limitations and ethical considerations of various study designs and

• Work independently, but where appropriate collaboratively to apply knowledge of nutritional epidemiology and communicate across boundaries the key concepts to a variety of audiences.

• Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental concepts of biostatistics commonly reported in reports of nutritional epidemiology.