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340.729.11
U.S. Based National Health Surveys: their Application and Associated Research Methods

Location
East Baltimore
Term
Summer Institute
Department
Epidemiology
Credit(s)
2
Academic Year
2017 - 2018
Instruction Method
TBD
Start Date
Monday, June 26, 2017
End Date
Friday, June 30, 2017
Class Time(s)
M, Tu, W, Th, F, 8:30 - 11:50am
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

Intermediate biostatistics, basic epidemiology background. Familiarity with STATA or SAS software required.

Description
National Health Surveys are one of the most important sources of rigorously collected health information in the U.S. Learn how to access and use large national datasets, apply survey weights, account for complex survey designs, conduct age standardization and trend analysis appropriately, and assess the quality and any limitations of data being used.
Introduces the purpose and application of national health surveys, and the strengths and limitations of this type of data. Uses publicly available survey data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), including data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to provide practical experience in accessing the data files, designing and executing basic analysis using complex survey data and determining when and how to appropriately conduct age adjustment and trend analysis. While the class utilizes U.S.-based examples, the principles and methods covered are applicable to other settings.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain the purpose and role of national health surveys in monitoring national health trends, setting national priorities and targets, and health program planning
  2. Identify strengths and limitations of the use of data from National Health Surveys
  3. Perform analysis accounting for complex survey design, and survey weights
  4. Identify when and how to perform age adjustment and trend analysis with national health survey data
  5. Use a National Health Survey to identify a testable research question