Application deadline

PhD students and students at the Student Research Program at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway apply by registering for class in Studentweb by February 1st

Application deadline for external applicants: February 1st for the spring semester. Application code 9306 in SøknadsWeb.

Type of course

Admission requirements

In order to qualify for admission for this course you must be registered as a PhD student at a university. Valid documentation is a statement from your institution that you are a registered PhD student this academic year (may be a screenshot from Studentweb if you are enrolled at a Norwegian university).

The course has 25 seats. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available applicants will be ranked in this order:

1. PhD students at UiT

2. Participants in the Associate Professor programme at UiT (must hold a Master´s  degree)

3. Registered PhD students from other universities

4. Applicants documenting that they have a Norwegian Master´s degree (or equivalent)

Recommended prerequisite: basic skills in epidemiology and statistics

For external students: Application code 9304 in SøknadsWeb.

Course content

The main aim of this course is to prepare the students for proper use of register-type data and larger databases.

The following subjects are covered:

• Data management
• How to approach a data set
• Data linkage
• How to handle poor data (case reporting, coverage, completeness, duplicates, illogical values and missing data)
• Practical use of data (data lab)
• Introduction to legislation for data use (REK/NSD)
• Extraction of data (EUTRO)
• Register epidemiology
• Registry creation and implementation
• Quality assurance and quality control QA/QC

Critical appraisal of own projects/protocols

Objectives of the course

Knowledge

• Assess criteria that defines high quality registry data
• Understand how a registry is designed
• Understand how to interpret results
• Evaluate correctly how to acquire data within the boundaries of the respective laws and regulations

Skills

• Determine how to conduct proper data management
• Judge how to plan projects and acquire permissions for use of data, both Norwegian and foreign
• Manage and process data analytically that are not of adequate quality from collection source
• Rate different challenges that ALL databases have, for example missing data
• Appraise register data from an epidemiological standpoint
• Be aware how to get access to data locally (for example Eutro)
• Linking different databases without losing important information

Interdisciplinary competence

• Increase general competence on routines related to storage, processing and analyses of data
• Advanced interdisciplinary critical appraisal
• How to present data in journals, to stakeholders or government officials (in a way that protects vulnerable groups)

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

The course will include didactic teaching such as lectures and power-point presentations, working in small and large groups, as well as interactive discussions and feedback sessions. A mixture between teacher-led and student-led activities throughout and students are expected to actively and dynamically participate in all course activities. Individual knowledge assimilation enhancement is required. Students are expected to hand in a brief project description before course starts up and provide feedback to other students. The students will also work in groups, supervising each other.

The course will have one gathering of four days. Active participation in lectures and group sessions is required. 

The course may be organized at other geographical locations besides the UiT campus.

Assessment

Work Requirements

• Prior to course start up, the student submits an outline (1 page) of the PhD project/article
• The students will be asked read material from a literature list before course start-up.
• Compulsory attendance (attendance on at least 80 % of educational activities required).
• Complete on-site assignments and work requirements.

Exam:

A two-week individual take home exam. Maximum 3000 words. I order to take the exam and complete the course, obligatory attendance must be approved.

Grading scale: pass/fail

The course runs annually, there are no re-sit exams.

Recommended reading/syllabus