About the Population Health Data Analysis Program

Population health can be measured by a broad range of health status factors (or health indicators) that impact health on a population-level, such as environment, social structure and resource distributions.  As an approach, population health focuses on these interrelated factors that influence the health of populations, identifies patterns of occurrence, and uses this knowledge to develop and implement policies and actions to improve the health and well being of populations.

Population Health Data Analysis is concerned with the theoretical and statistical processes for linking and analyzing data specific to multiple health indicators. A range of techniques are employed, including data base preparation, epidemiological statistics, and advanced modeling and spatial analyses.  This work seeks to explore, analyze and identify the interrelationships in this health data. Knowledge gained is used for the purposes of enhancing the quality of health research and information available for the advancement of health policy, and ultimately, improved health outcomes.

Given society’s growing interest in maintaining and improving the health of the entire population as well as reducing inequalities in health between population groups, the demand for this specialized form of data analysis work is high. There is a need for trained professionals who understand the intricacies of population health, have the tools to accurately examine, analyze and evaluate health data, and realize the importance of this work in both informing and advancing positive health outcomes within our society.  It is these needs that the PHDA program addresses.

This non-credit professional specialization certificate program is designed to meet the need for certified training and qualifications in the analysis of Population Health Data for health professionals, researchers, students and faculty.  The program offers a unique opportunity to learn a diverse set of skills from multiple disciplines. The overall goal of the program is to provide participants with strong foundational knowledge and data analysis skills that can support their work within the field of population health.

Participants will gain familiarity with a broad array of techniques applicable to the analysis and interpretation of health data through on-line discussions, assignments and practical data analysis applications.  Each course will combine theory with practice by introducing relevant analytical approaches, addressing their strengths and limitations, and providing participants with the knowledge and evaluative tools to discern how best to apply them in practice.  Courses are structured in a manner that assists participants to develop an understanding of data requirements, data formats and the appropriate choice of analytic methodology. 

While each course has its own distinct subject matter, all will contribute to the program’s key objectives of assisting participants to develop and/or enhance their knowledge and skills in:

• Working with an analyzing administrative health data 
• Evaluating the benefits and limitations of specific types of population health-related data
• Gaining practical experience in statistical and geographical analysis of health data
• Developing health data analysis and interpretation skills using a variety of techniques and related software through hands-on exercises and labs
• Analyzing case examples involving health data analysis and related health outcomes

The courses in this program are designed to introduce a wide-range of health-related analysis techniques, but are still rigorous enough to provide a foundation for more highly specialized studies in any specific technique.

This program is designed to serve the interests of professionals who are:

• Working for a population health-related organization
• Involved in health research
• Members of a related  discipline

Professional Specialization Certificate
Certificate students apply and are admitted to the program for non-credit study (application to the university is not required). The certificate requires completion of four courses, including completion of core and proven proficiency courses. Participants are evaluated on course assignments and projects.  Students will receive a transcript identifying their marks from the Division of Continuing Studies. Students successfully completing the program requirements will be granted a professional specialization certificate by the University of Victoria. Students may enter the program at any time throughout the year as courses do not need to be taken in any specific order as long as the pre-requisites are met.

Individual Courses
When space is available, individuals may register in a maximum of two courses for professional development without having to enroll as a certificate student. However these registrants will be expected to meet the same prerequisites as certificate students. A specific fee for participating in individual courses will apply.

To apply to the program, complete the online or paper-based program application form outlining your previous work and educational experience, and submit the application along with a) verification of your undergraduate degree(s), b) successful completion of an introductory statistics course at the undergraduate or graduate level (or equivalent) and c) resume documenting relevant work experience.  If you are requesting exemption from PHDA 02 and/or 03 please include documentation of successful completion of coursework (include relevant course outline(s) where possible) in epidemiology and/or Population Health and GIS.

For more details contact the Program Coordinator.

All of the courses are provided on-line.  Course schedules and on line learning formats are designed to meet the time constraints and flexibility needs of busy working professionals. Students will use software and data sets within a secure research environment (SRE). This access is provided through Population Data BC. 

Program Application Fee:  $120

Tuition Fee:  $1250 per course

Tuition fee if not enrolled in the program:  $1400

Data access/materials fee:  
data fee for the SRE/per course: $125
one-time access key for the SRE: $100
books/additional materials:  may be required for some courses

Graduation Fee:  $40
(This fee is payable prior to issuance of a program certificate and transcripts).  Only students who have applied for the program and successfully completed 4 courses as per the requirements will be eligible for graduation.

All fees are tax deductible.

Required courses:

The program requires successful completion of the following core requirements: PHDA 01 and proven proficiency in: PHDA 02 and PHDA 03. Students can prove proficiency through course completion or submission of applicable transcripts (include relevant course outlines where possible).  Additional courses can then be selected from a list of available PHDA electives.

Core requirements:

PHDA 01 Working with Administrative Data
The course examines the basics of what administrative data are, where they come from, how they can be used for research, what the data produced for a research project looks like, the skills that are needed to work with them, and basic statistical analysis of these data. This course also provides an overview of privacy issues and access to data.

Proven proficiency in the following two courses:

PHDA 02 Epidemiological Statistics
This course will introduce students to the field of epidemiology. Students will critically evaluate analytic methods sections in the epidemiologic literature and examine epidemiologic methods including data collection, study design and statistical analysis. Standard epidemiologic techniques parametric and non-parametric hypothesis testing, odds ratios, relative risk, contingency tables, randomization, linear, logistic, Poisson and Cox regression analysis  will also be taught. The course will deal with missing data, measurement error and exposure misclassification.

PHDA 03 Population Health and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
In this course, students will learn about the geographic nature of population health research, key considerations and limitations in spatial analysis and the application of GIS in health research. Students will learn about linking administrative data to spatial data in order to analyze it spatially.

Electives:

PHDA 04 Spatial Epidemiology and Outbreak Detection
This course provides an introduction to methods in spatial epidemiology and disease outbreak detection. The spatial epidemiology portion focuses on assessing exposures in a geographical information system (GIS) for use in epidemiological studies. Students will learn about spatial health data and area socio-economic data, spatial exposure assessment methods, analytical approaches, and limitations of spatial epidemiology. Outbreak detection will cover different methods of space-time disease surveillance.
Prerequisite: Epidemiological Statistics (PHDA 02) and Population Health and Geographic Information Systems (PHDA 03)

PHDA 05 Longitudinal Analysis and Multi-level Modeling of Population Health Data
This course will provide students with an introduction to and hands-on experience specifying multi-level modeling and longitudinal analysis. Students will gain an understanding of different types of approaches including time varying and invariant predictors, latent growth curves, structural equation modeling, and multivariate and multi-population models with different outcomes. The course will also deal with missing data and errors in measurement and measurement misclassification.

PHDA 06 Health Services Program Monitoring and Evaluation
The course will provide an overview of the basic concepts and principles of program monitoring evaluation in the administration of health services. The course will introduce basic concepts, common issues, and approaches to program evaluation of health service interventions and programs. Students will be introduced to assessing health services and systems, research design, measurement reliability and validity, common data sources used, measurement of quality of care and effectiveness and outcomes. By the end of the course, students will be able to conduct a critical analysis of programs in health and make recommendations regarding program and policy decision-making.

Members of the Professional Specialization in Population Health Data Analysis Program Steering Committee

• Michael Hayes, Director of Health Education and Research, UVic
• Aleck Ostry, Professor of Geography and Canadian Research Chair in the Social Determinants of Community Health, UVic
• Carolyn Gotay, Professor and Interim Director, School of Population and Public Health, UBC
• George Astrakianakis, Assistant Professor, School of Environmental Health, UBC
• Charmaine Dean, Professor and Burnaby Mountain Research Chair in the Dept of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Simon Fraser University
• Scott Venners, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, SFU
• Eleanor Setton, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Geography, UVic Spatial Sciences Research Lab
• Heather McRae, Program Director, Arts and Sciences, Division of Continuing Studies, UVic
• Ann Greenwood, Lead, Education and Training, Population Data BC
• Kelly Barnard, Senior Medical Consultant, Health Authorities Division BC Ministry of Health Services
• Emily Schudel (ex officio), Distance Education Services Consultant University of Victoria