Study Programmes 2015-2016
METO0750-3  
Transdisciplinary approach of public sanitary issues
Duration :
20h Th, 10h Mon. WS
Number of credits :
Master in public health (120 ECTS)4
Master in public health (120 ECTS)4
Master in public health (120 ECTS)4
Master in public health (120 ECTS)4
Master in public health (120 ECTS)4
Master in public health (120 ECTS)4
Master in public health (120 ECTS)4
Lecturer :
Olivier Bruyère, Jacinthe Dancot, Michèle Guillaume, Benoît Pétré, Sylvie Streel
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
A reminder of the notions involved in a scientific approach to public health research.
A theoretical reminder of the initial question and the main research question.
A theoretical reminder of the inductive approach versus the deductive approach.
A theoretical reminder of the qualitative approach versus the quantitative approach and mixed methods in the context of public health research.
A theoretical reminder of the notions concerning sampling in the context of qualitative or quantitative studies.
Development of a research protocol in public health.
A reflective approach to the implementation of theoretical notions.
Learning of scientific writting.
Learning outcomes of the course :
General objectives
In the context of a scientific approach to public health research the student will:


  • Learn to write a research protocol and plan its operational implementation.
  • Experiment a multidisciplinary research work.
  • Develop his/her critical faculties with regard to the methodological choices to be made in the context of perfecting a research protocol.
  • Develop his/her critical mind with regard to the critical issues involved in public health research.
  • Learn the rules of communication of the products of scientific research.
Specific objectives
In the context of a scientific approach to a research protocol the student will:


  • Be capable of understanding a research protocol.
  • Learn how to plan a research protocol.
  • Be capable of working within a multidisciplinary approach.
  • Master the different modes of sampling and be capable of applying a well-informed choice according to the research subject and its objectives.
  • Be capable of creating the tools relative to the different methods of information gathering.
  • Learn the analysis methods for qualitative and quantitative data.
  • Be capable of preparing an analyis plan for qualitative and quantitative data.
  • Be capable of assessing the difficulties encountered with regard to methodological choices and seek solutions.
  • Learn the major ethical principles to be respected.
  • Be capable of making methodological choices while respecting ethical issues.
  • Learn the rules for writing a scientific article
  • Be capable of making a presentation.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
A scientific approach to public health (PISC I and II)
Biostatistics
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The theory course is taught in ex-cathedra sessions. Exercices sessions. Seminars helping to draft protocols. Exercises correction seminars.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
The theoretical course is organized on a face-to-face basis. The majority of sessions are planned to enable students to present the progress of their research protocol and a reflective approach, integrating the theoretical knowledge covered previously.
Recommended or required readings :
There are no lecture notes. A PowerPoint presentation on the subject will be made available to students on "MyUlg". The theoretical planning of a research protocol and course notes on the rules for writing a scientific article will be distributed during the session. Recommended reading for students (for further information):
Salmi, LR 2012, Lecture critique et communication médicale scientifique. Comment lire, présenter, rédiger et publier une étude clinique ou épidémiologique, 3rd edn, Elsevier Masson, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.
  • Research approach
Quivy, R &Van Campenhoudt, L 2006, Manuel de recherche en sciences sociales, 3rd edn, Dunod, Paris. Fortin, MF 2010, Fondements et étapes du processus de recherche - méthodes quantitatives et qualitatives, 2nd edn, Chenelière Education, Montréal.
  • Quantitative approach
Foddy, W 1993, Constructing Questions for Interviews and Questionnaires, University Press, Cambridge. Ghiglione, R & Matalon, B 1988, Les enquêtes sociologiques, théories et pratique, A. Colin, Paris.
  • Qualitative approach
Malterud, K 2001, "Qualitative research: standards, challenges, guidelines", The Lancet, 358, pp. 483-488. Miles, MB & Huberman, AM 2005,  Analyse des données qualitatives, 2ndedn, De Boeck, Bruxelles.
Assessment methods and criteria :
The evaluation is distributed as follows:
  • 20% : realization of exercises in groups of 2
  • 80% : realization of research protocol of the end of study work - Obtaining the response of an Ethics Committee is required for this part of the assessment - Failure to this rule equivalent to a 0/20 for the entire evaluation of the protocol.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Students will be divided into groups. Students of the PASI specialization will be supervised by Pr. Dancot. Students of the EES specialization will be supervised by Pr. BRUYERE. The latter group will be complemented by some of the students of the PSE specialization who conduct a quantitative study. Students of the PSE specialization will be supervised by Pr. GUILLAUME. Individualized support is available to students to help them to complete their research protocol of the end of study work. A seminar for the correction of the exercises will be offered to all students so that they can come and ask any questions and will eventually seek further information.
Contacts :
Respective specializations Coordinators.