Previous Training & Events

Training Course: An Introduction to Bayesian Statistics Using WinBUGS

Location: University of Glasgow
Date: 3-5 December 2012 
Presented by: Professor Nicky Best

Use of Bayesian methods is becoming increasingly widespread within quantitative social and health sciences, particularly for analysing data with complex structure, such as hierarchical or multilevel data. However, very few applied researchers have any formal training in Bayesian methods. Days 1 and 2 of this three-day course aim to introduce quantitative researchers to the basic principles of Bayesian inference and simulation-based methods for estimating Bayesian models, and to highlight some of the potential benefits that a Bayesian approach can offer. The 3rd day will cover hierarchical models in more depth (e.g. models for longitudinal data, spatial models for small area data, hierarchical models for variances etc). There is a large practical component to this course with time for hands-on data analysis using examples drawn mainly from the social and health sciences. The course is aimed at epidemiologists, biostatisticians and other researchers with strong quantitative skills and experience in statistical analysis. No previous knowledge ofWinBUGS will be required. Click here for more information.

Training course: Introduction To Spatial Analysis in Public Health and Healthcare

Location: University of Dundee
Date: 19th September 2012 9:30 -4:30
Presented by: Sanjeev Sridharan, Associate Professor, University of Toronto
This one day workshop will describe the basics of spatial analysis to help make sense of spatial patterns. Both methods of exploratory and confirmatory spatial methods will be discussed. The workshop will be highly intuitive and no prior formal background in spatial analysis is assumed.
Concepts to be covered include:
(a) Key concepts of spatial patterning;
(b) Spatial dependence and spatial heterogeneity;
(c) Exploratory spatial data analysis;
(d) Spatial regression;
(e) Substantive explanations for spatial patterning--examples from the literature.
GeoDa software is recommended. Workshop participants are asked to bring their laptop to the class with GeoDa software downloaded (it is available free).

Advanced Training Workshop

Location: Department of Geography and Geosciences, University of St Andrews
Date: 4th - 8th June 2012 inclusive
Presented by: Professor D’Arcy Holman

This was an intensive five-day course on the theory and practice of analysis of large sets of linked administrative health data at an intermediate to advanced level. Advanced principles of health care epidemiology were combined with hands-on practical exercises in the implementation of computing solutions.

Click here for more details.

SHIP Retreat

Location: The Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro Hotel
Date: 31st May - 1st June 2012

The purpose was to draw together the various branches of SHIP to foster collaborative working, to report on the status of the SHIP infrastucture and plan for the next year. Click here for the slides.

Developing a Safe Haven Workshop

Location: The Hilton Grosvenor Hotel Glasgow
Date: 13th April 2012

The aim was to foster synergy and share practice in the creation of safe havens. Click here for more details.

Geographically Weighted Regression: A Two-day training workshop from the Applied Quantitative Methods Network (AQMeN)

Location: University of Dundee
Date: 8th and 9th December 2011

The course is presented by Stewart Fotheringham, Science Foundation Ireland Research Professor and Director of National Centre for Geocomputation at NUI Maynoothbr and Dr Urška Demšar, National Centre for Geocomputation, NUI Maynooth

Course Content
This two-day course introduces the technique of Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) for modelling spatially-varying relationships in social science data. The course consists of lectures, examples and practical sessions using GWR and ArcGIS. It is intended for those using or considering using regression modelling or relative multivariate methods within social research contexts. Click here for more details or contact: AQMeN, The University of Edinburgh, 2nd floor, 15 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9LN
tel: 0131 650 2128 email: info@aqmen.ac.uk

SHIP Biennial Conference

Location: University of St Andrews
Date: 9th - 11th September 2011Click here for the final programme and here for full details of the conference.

Health Informatics Scotland Conference

Location: Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
Date: 12th and 13th September

At Health Informatics Scotland this year there is a great programme of international and UK speakers on the themes of Patient eHealth; Medications support from eHealth; and Telehealthcare. The amazingly low earlybird delegate rate of only £30 +vat (no there is not a zero missing!) means it will be a very busy event and like previous years fully expect to sell out. So register early or miss out! www.hiscotland.info As well as the fantastic speaker programme there will be a large exhibition of relevant sponsors and a fun social evening with plenty of bubbly and networking. See the programme and speaker biographies on http://www.hiscotland.info BCS Health Scotland are also hosting the NHS Scotland eHealth Awards 2011 at the end of the second day when entry to the event will be FREE.Health Informatics Scotland is a not-for-profit conference run by BCS Health Scotland as a service for professionals and the public in Scotland. Download the conference flier here or go to www.hiscotland.info to find out more.

Statistical analysis with missing data using multiple imputation and inverse probability weighting - training course.

Location: University of St Andrews
Date: 20th – 22nd June 2011

Aims:
• provide an introduction to the issues raised by missing data, and the associated statistical jargon
• illustrate the shortcomings of ad-hoc methods for 'handling' missing data
• introduce multiple imputation for statistical analysis with missing data
• compare and contrast this with other methods, in particular inverse probability weighting and doubly robust methods
• introduce methods for exploring the sensitivity of inference to the missing at random assumption

Click here for more details.

Dr John Halamka gives the 6th Mackenzie Lecture

"Connecting Patients, Providers, and Payers"
a discussion of how $27 Billion will be spent to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of Healthcare in the US through strategic implementation of information technology.

Hosted by: The Health Informatics Centre
Location: Dalhousie Building University of Dundee
Date: 26th May 2011

Click here for more details.

Mackenzie Lecture Day

Hosted by: The Health Informatics Centre
Location: Mackenzie Building, Dundee
Date: 26th May 2011

Morning Session - "Supporting Clinical Research in Tayside and Fife"
Speakers:
Keith Gillon: Tayside Medical Science Centre (TASC)
Shaun Treweek: Tayside Clinical Trials Unit (TCTU)
Peter Donnan: Dundee Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (DEBU)
Duncan Heather / Alison Bell: Health Informatics Centre (HIC)

Afternoon Session - "Supporting e-health records research in Scotland"
Speakers:
Anthea Springbett: Latest developments in SHIS-R
Steve Kendrick: Patient based prescribing
Graeme Laurie: Proportionate Governance

SHIP Retreat

The Scottish Health Informatics Programme is holding its third annual retreat from 4pm on Thursday 19th May until 4pm on Friday 20th May 2011 at:

The Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro Hotel
Perth Road
Dunblane
FK15 0HG.

The purpose is to draw together the various branches of SHIP to foster collaborative working, to take stock of the past year and plan for the next.

Click here for the retreat agenda.

Workshop

"Joined-up Information Systems for Policy-Making: The Case for Cross-Sectoral Record Linkage in Scotland"

- a workshop hosted by four organizations with strong interests in increasing Scottish capacity for routine cross-sectoral record-linkage:

The Workshop was held at the British Medical Association 14 Queen Street, Edinburgh on 14th March 2011.

Workshop

Location: Central Teaching Area, Mackenzie Building, University of Dundee, Kirsty Semple Way, Dundee DD2 4BF
Date: Monday 13th December 2010 2-4:30pm. A buffet lunch will be served at 1:15pm.

Speakers:
Dr Anthea Springbett will summarise the plans for SHIP. Click here for slides
Professor Graeme Laurie will speak on "A Governance Framework" Click here for slides
Professor Sarah Cunningham-Burley and Dr Mhairi Aitken will speak on "Public Engagement" click here for slides

The Scottish Health Informatics Programme (SHIP) integrates developments in data linkage for health research with a robust approach to research governance. This process involves engaging with researchers and wider publics in discussing social and ethical concerns to support the development of appropriate governance models.

The Workshop is an invitation to engage in this process. A potential framework for governance which has been developed within the governance strand will be presented and discussed. Attendees will hear about the public engagement work and will be able to discuss their views on the value of public engagement.

Information on SHIP will be offered, with particular focus on the work of the Public Engagement stream along with a paper presentation from Graeme Laurie on a potential framework for the governance of data reuse for research.

The participants will subsequently be addressed with several questions for discussion in order to inform the Public Engagement and Information Governance strands of the project.

Venue: Click here for directions to the Mackenzie Building. Free parking on site will be on a first come first served basis. Paid parking available nearby.

Booking: Spaces will be limited. Please contact Christine Lamb (ship@st-andrews.ac.uk) to reserve a place on the workshop.

Modern Demographic Methods in Epidemiology - Training Course

Location: University of St Andrews
Date: 1-3 June 2010

Course convener:
Bendix Carstensen, Senior Statistician, Steno Diabetes Center & Department of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

The course will give an overview of modern demographic methods in epidemiology. The course will use the freely available computer package R, and will contain a short introduction for those unfamiliar with the package.

Click here for more details and booking information.

SHIP Annual Retreat

Location: Barceló Stirling Highland Hotel
Date: 20th-21st May 2010.

The aim of the annual retreat is to review the yea's progress and plan for the coming year. In particular it is an opportunity to make links across the different branches of SHIP to maximise collaborative wroking. It also gives junior reserachers a chance to air early results.

Click here for the retreat agenda

Advanced Analysis of Linked Health Data - 5-day Training Workshop

Location: Department of Geography & Geosciences, University of St Andrews
Date: 6-10 April 2010.

Course Coordinators:

Professor D'Arcy Holman holder of the Foundation Chair in Public Health, at the University of Western Australia and a leading figure in the field on linked data.

Associate Professor David Preen is Director of the Centre for Health Services Research at the University of Western Australia School of Population Health.

Associate Professor Rachael Moorin is the Director of the University of Western Australia node of the Austrailian Centre for Economic Re-search on Health (ACERH).

Workshop on Secure Data Linkage and Access

Location: Royal Society of Edinburgh
Date: 9th February 2010.

The primary aim of SHIP is to make health-related datasets more available for research purposes and to facilitate secure linkage between NHS datasets and other public/private datasets. This one day workshop was held in order to learn from best practice in other countries. It was an opportunity for representatives from government, academic, NHS and industry to discuss the problems and possible solutions with colleagues in England, Wales and Canada. The workshop addressed all aspects of data linkage and access including governance, IT solutions and data security.

Click here for the meeting agenda

To download PDF files of the speakers' slides click on the relevant title below:

SHIP Biennial Conference 2009

The SHIP Conference: "Exploiting Existing Data for Health Research" 17th-19th September 2009. Click here for the conference programme.