Aim and Content

The subject is composed of four parts:

MEDSTA / Medical statistics, 5 credits: 

This part gives an introduction to statistical concepts, study design, evaluation of published studies and data analysis.

MEDEPI/Epidemiology, 2 credits:
The most important principles of epidemiology are presented. Epidemiological theory, strengths and weaknesses of study design and interpretation of epidemiological studies are discussed.

Spectroscopy, 2 credits:
This part includes analysis of organic compounds by spectroscopic methods. Methods as infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy are taught, whereas the main focus is on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopy (MS).

Biochemical methodology, 1 credit:
The course includes the theory and practical aspects of some basic techniques in molecular biology and biochemistry. The main focus is on cell culture, PCR, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.

Learning Outcomes

MEDSTA / / Medical statistics

Knowledge
After completing the course, the students should be able to explain the concepts
- research design
- probability theory
- descriptive statistics
- diagnostic tests
- fundamental distributions
- important methodical concepts/measures
- estimation and hypothesis testing
- correlation and regression
- logistic regression and survival analysis 

Skills
After completing the course, the students should be able to
- describe a collection of observations both numerically and graphically
- calculate p-values and confidence intervals and interpret these in simple standard situations
- perform statistical analysis on medical data 

General skills
After completing the course, the students should be able to
- critically evaluate the use of statistics in medical literature

MEDEPI/Epidemiology

Knowledge
After completing the course, the students should be able to
- know about basic epidemiological methods
- know about basic methods relevant for prevention and health promotion care

 Skills
After completing the course, the students should be able to
- discuss the most important study designs and their strengths and weaknesses
- understand measures of occurrence (incidence, prevalence), associations, effect modification/interaction and principles of screening
- assess possible sources of errors and causality in published studies
- use their knowledge to plan and execute studies

 General skills
After completing the course, the students should be able to
- hold the theoretical knowledge necessary to independently assess published studies related to medical causal research
- critically reflect over scientific literature and participate in discussions

Spectroscopy
By using information from IR, UV, MS and NMR spectra, students will learn to identify unknown compounds. Relevant pharmaceutical issues will be discussed.

Biochemical methodology
Master the basic knowledge behind the practical methods that are used in this course, be able to perform basic cloning techniques, PCR and to express recombinant protein in bacteria and to perform the SDS gel electrophoresis and Western / spot blot techniques. The student should be able to master basic molecular biological techniques in general and be able to carry out similar experiments.

Course offered (semester)

Spring

Access to the Course Unit

The subject is reserved for students of the pharmacy programmes at University of Bergen.

Recommended previous knowledge

FARM103, FARM110, FARM130, FARM131, FARM250, FARM150, FARM260, MAT101

Subject Overlap

KJEM230: 4 SP, FARM105 4 SP

Compulsory Requirements

It is mandatory to be present and participate in the biochemical methodology part of the course.

The epidemiology course includes compulsory group work on written report that is handed in and assessed. More information is given under assessment.

Assessment methods

The student is given a separate mark for each part of the course. The overall mark for FARM301 is the calculated mean of the marks for the two written exams. The marking scale A to F is used, where A is the best mark an F is not passed.

Assessment of the individual parts of the course:

MEDSTAT: Written exam (3 hours). Marks A-F.

MEDEPI: Passed mandatory group exam (ca. 5 studens pr. exercise).

Spectroscopy: Written exam (2 hours). Marks A-F.

Biochemical methodology: Mandatory participation in course. Marks: Passed/not passed.

All four parts of the course has to be passed in order to pass course.

Grading Scale

The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade in the grading scale, grade F is a fail.

Course Unit Evaluation

The students evaluate the teaching according to the quality assurance system of UiB and the participating departments.