MPH Comprehensive Exam Study Guide in Epidemiology

Format of the exam. The exam includes open-ended responses and multiple-choice responses. There are several simple calculations. You will be asked to interpret data from published studies; you will be asked to analyze studies; you will be asked to define basic terms. 

Please bring a calculator and your epi formula sheets of to the exam. Here's a link to current class formula: epi-formulas.pdf

BASIC TERMS: Basic terms and concepts from Chapter 1. At present, no Chapter 2 concepts are tested.

INCIDENCE & PREVALENCE Incidence proportion (average risk), incidence rate (densities), and prevalences as covered in Chapter 6.

RATE ADJUSTMENT - Rate adjustment and confounding as covered in Chapter 7. You will not have to perform mathematical adjustments, but should be familiar with interpretation and concepts. 

MEASURES OF ASSOCIATION  Basic measures of risk difference and relative risk. Attributable fraction will not be addressed. These concepts are covered in Chapter 8.

ANALYTIC STUDIES Interpretation of experimental and non-experimental (ecological, cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies. These are covered in Chapters 9 - 11.

ERROR IN RESEARCH - Random and systematic error in epidemiologic research as covered Chapter 12.

Chapter 16 (causal inference) and Chapters 4 (screening) are not covered because these are presented toward the end of the course. 

[Last edit: 4/24/09]