Time Schedule:
Stephen E. Hawes
EPI 510
Seattle Campus
Intended for students planning to take EPI 514. Introduces concepts and programming skills necessary to analyze data sets for case-control and cohort studies. Provides students hands-on experience in using epidemiologic data sets for stratified analyses with SAS and Stata. Credit/no-credit only. Prerequisite: EPI 511 or EPI 512. Offered: W.
Class description
The course intends to provide a review of epidemiologic theory and methods applied to the analysis of actual study datasets. Students will learn data management and analysis skills in both SAS and Stata, with emphasis on methods (stratified analyses) to be utilized in Epi 514.
Student learning goals
Manage raw data files, analysis datasets, SAS program files, Stata do files, and reports
Create analysis datasets
Categorize, recode, and combine variables to generate new variables
Manipulate text strings to create analysis variables
Work with dates in analyses
Create a coding guide for a dataset
Label analysis variables and format output
Assess missing data values
Create and review frequency tables and data summaries
Check for inconsistencies in the data
Create an external file of formats and data libraries
Merge datasets
Create new analysis variables
Calculate a crude risk estimate from a 2x2 table in SAS, Stata, and EpiInfo
Conduct a stratified analysis, calculating stratum-specific risk estimates
Subset SAS and Stata datasets when necessary
Calculate adjusted risk estimates
Jointly assess effect modification and confounding
Process multiple variables simultaneously using arrays in SAS
Compare distributions of variables using analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-tests, and non-parametric testing in SAS and Stata
Set up variables to conduct a linear or logistic regression in SAS and Stata
Understand the strengths and weaknesses of each statistical software program
Become familiar with variables pertaining to maternal and infant factors during pregnancy
Formulate and outline a data analysis plan
Assess study power and sample sizes
Write a statistical program to conduct a stratified analysis
Explain and evaluate confounding and effect medication
Organize and present study results in tables
General method of instruction
Class takes place in the Health Science Library Computer Labs. Course materials are presented in course pack, on course website and in lectures. Classroom time spent on lectures regarding SAS and Stata programming coding as well as epidemiologic theory, Some class sessions are devoted solely to the utilization of SAS and Stata, through working on homework assignments.
Hands on experience provided through weekly homework assignments, with applications learned in SAS and Stata in parallel.
Recommended preparation
EPI 511 or EPI 512 and completed or concurrent enrollment in EPI 513
Class assignments and grading
There are required weekly homework assignments which need to be completed in order to receive credit for the course. The course is credit/no credit only.
