The course focuses on some of the fundamental issues and challenges in epidemiological research of pregnancy outcome and newborn health. These include critical exposure periods in a foetal growth perspective - including the development and risk of birth defects; the epidemiological implications of maternal and gestational diabetes for the newborn; medication use in pregnancy - what is known and not known about the effect on the foetus; working and environmental risks during pregnancy; small-for-gestational age as a proxy for intrauterine growth restriction; confounding; and a critical view on the use of population-based birth registers in research. We will also look closer at the role of socio-economic factors and how they are mediated. These learning aims will be achieved through lectures by experienced researchers within the different areas, literature reviews and discussions.
The course consists of a pre-gathering assignment, a 5-day gathering at our nicely located campus in Gothenburg, Sweden, and a post-gathering written task.
Lecturers
Ester Garne, Pediatrician, EUROCAT, Kolding Hospital, Denmark
Lars Gerhardsson, Assoc. Professor, Göteborg University, Sweden
Mika Gissler, Professor, THL National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland
Marit Gisselmann, Senior Researcher, Stockholm Univerity, Sweden
Bo Jacobsson, Assoc. Professor, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden
Max Petzold, Assoc. Professor, Nordic School of Public Health
Margareta Reis, Senior Lecturer, Linköping University, Sweden
Laura Arbour, Assoc. Professor, University of British Columbia, Canada
Arild Vaktskjold, Senior Lecturer, Nordic School of Public Health
Specific eligibility requirements:
Minimum requirement is a Master degree or equivalent. It is expected that the students have a pre-understanding of basic statistics and epidemiology.
Syllabus 2010 (pdf)
Application and fees:
Application by August 1st: SEK 8000,-*
After August 1st: SEK 9500,-
Refreshments (not lunch) and obligatory in-class course material are included.
Application will be closed when the course is full.
Withdrawal and refund:
Withdrawal by August 1st: 100 percent refund.
Students who have applied for the course will be informed no later than August 6th should the course be cancelled and a 100 percent refund is granted.
Accommodation:
Students may find accomodation at Nya Varvet Studios on campus. For more information and prices go to www.nyavarvetstudios.se or send an e-mail to info@nyavarvet.se.
Course time:
Sep 20-24, 2010. The course begins at 10 am on the 20th and ends at 12.30 on the 24th.
Course code:
U3052010B
Course coordinator:
Arild Vaktskjold, DrScient (arild.vaktskjold@nhv.se)
For questions concerning admission, registration and payment, please contact our course administrator.
Course administrator:
Louise Teurneau (louise.teurneau@nhv.se)
*For students residing in the Baltic Sea rim countries, a potential source to apply for funding is the Visby programme.