MATH52315: Models and Methods for Health Data Science

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• To introduce the knowledge and skills for the modelling and analysis of routinely collected health data.

• Basics of Epidemiology.
• Health Economic Modelling.
• Modelling techniques for discrete data.
• Survival analysis.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of the module students will have a working knowledge and understanding of concepts in the following areas:
• Measures of disease and risk;
• Compartmental and agent-based models;
• Decision Trees and Markov models;
• Odds ratios, Logistic and Poisson regression;
• Cox regression and other techniques for time-to-event data.

Subject-specific Skills:

• In addition, students will have acquired:
• An appreciation of different types of health data, and choice of modelling techniques for a specific situation;
• Basic statistical skills in modelling and simulation;
• The ability to use statistical software R to conduct synthesis of data and data analysis;
• Programming skills generally used in health data science;
• The ability to identify and apply appropriate statistical methods to modern real-world problems.

Key Skills:

• Sufficient mastery of models and methods for health data science and ability to apply them appropriately to real-world applications.
• The ability to clearly communicate statistical models and relevant conclusions through writing.
• The ability to organise, prioritise, and manage time effectively.
• The ability to advance and extend their knowledge through significant independent learning and research.

• This module will be delivered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
• Teaching will be delivered primarily by workshops and lectures.
• Lectures demonstrate what is required to be learned and the application of the theory to practical examples.
• Workshops describe theory and its application to concrete examples, enable students to test and develop their understanding of the material by applying it to practical problems, and provide feedback and encourage active engagement.
• Workshops are a combination of taught material, practicals, problem classes, tutorials and guided group work.
• Lectures and workshops will be supported by the distribution of materials such as video content, directed reading, e-assessments, reflective activities, opportunities for self-assessment, and peer-to-peer learning within a tutor-facilitated discussion board.
• Students will be able to obtain further help in their studies via scheduled office hours as well as by approaching their lecturers by email.
• Students will be expected to work in between workshops and lectures, and to discuss their own work during the workshops. This work will be guided by the module leader, but will be organised by the students themselves, thereby enabling them to demonstrate their time management skills.
• Students will undertake independent research to further their knowledge of the topic and self-directed learning to further their technical and transferable skills.
• The workshops also provide opportunities for module leaders to monitor progress and to provide feedback and guidance on the development of ideas for the project, and for students to gauge their progress throughout the duration of the module.
• Student performance will be assessed through four individual assignments.
• The assignments will provide the means for students to demonstrate their acquisition of subject knowledge and the development of their problem-solving skills.

Workshop discussion of students; ideas and experiences; informal discussions of student progress with module leader when necessary.

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