Lesson series

Fundamentals of Study Design

5 CME
In this course, participants will be introduced to the fundamental principles and methodologies of research study design. They will delve into a range of study designs, including experimental, observational (cross-sectional, case-control and prospective studies), and quasi-experimental approaches. Through engaging online lectures and hands-on exercises, students will acquire the skills to choose the optimal study design for their research. They will also gain insights into the advantages and drawbacks associated with various designs and learn different biases and methodological approaches to overcome them. By the end of the course, participants will have established a robust understanding of study design principles, equipping them to conduct rigorous and credible research within their respective fields. Target audience: graduate and undergraduate students in the biomedical and health sciences.
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  Aims

  • Understand various study designs and their respective levels of evidence
  • Learn the key strengths and limitations associated with different study designs.
  • Learn about major sources of bias, confounding factors, sampling techniques, measures of association, and effect modification.
  • To train students on how to interpret results accurately and report findings in a clear and scientific manner.
  • To equip students with the ability to apply design principles to real-world research challenges in their specific field.

  Content

  • Observational Studies: Case reports, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, cohort studies, and more.
  • Interventional Studies: Various types of clinical trials.
  • Innovative Study Designs: Pragmatic trials.
  • Confounding and Bias
  • Effect modification
  • Measures of Associations: Odds ratios, risk ratios, hazard ratios, and correlation coefficients.
  • Sampling Methods
  • Levels of Evidence

  Methods

The introduction to the topic takes place via online video lectures, literature reading, practical exercises and tests. In individual work, different exercises addressing different aspects of study designs are carried out using concrete case studies. At the end of each section, a test is provided to assess your knowledge.

  Target audience

Healthcare and public health professionals, as well as social scientists professionals with an interest in the topic.

Meet our lecturer

Petra Zimmermann, MD, PhD, PD

I am a Clinical Scientist trained in Infectious Diseases and Paediatrics, currently working at the University of Fribourg and the Fribourg Hospital in Switzerland. I trained at the University Children’s Hospital in Berne, Switzerland and at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. In 2013, I completed my thesis ‘Diagnosis and Management of Travellers returning from a developing Country’ at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine at the University Hospital of Berne. 
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