Dr Data Insight - SQL Basics Course

Welcome

M1: Intro to SQL

Welcome to the SQL Basics Course

Structured Query Language (SQL) is the backbone of modern data work—used to access, manage, and manipulate data in virtually every healthcare system, business intelligence platform, and analytics workflow. In the NHS, where data powers everything from patient flow to national performance reporting, SQL is an essential tool for digital health professionals.

This course is designed for beginners and those looking to strengthen their data foundations. You'll learn how to write queries, retrieve specific data from large datasets, use filters and conditions, and join multiple tables—all using real-world healthcare examples. With over 80% of NHS Business Intelligence teams using SQL daily, mastering this skill will open doors across clinical informatics, digital transformation, service improvement, and beyond.

By the end of this course, you'll be confident in using SQL to turn raw data into meaningful insight—an essential step on your journey to becoming a data-driven decision-maker.

Module 1: Introduction to SQL

Objective: Learn the basics of SQL, including its syntax, structure, and use cases.
- What is SQL and why it's important
- Basic SQL syntax and structure
- How SQL interacts with databases
- Common database operations: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE

Module 2: Filtering, Aggregation, and Grouping

Objective: Master the techniques for filtering data, performing calculations, and grouping data for analysis.
- Using WHERE, AND, OR, and IN clauses to filter data
- Sorting results with ORDER BY
- Aggregate functions: COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX
- Grouping data with GROUP BY
- Filtering grouped data with HAVING

Module 3: Joins and Relations

Objective: Understand how to combine data from multiple tables using joins and explore database relationships
- What are joins and why they’re important
- INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JOIN, FULL JOIN
- Self-joins and using JOIN on multiple tables
- Primary keys and foreign keys
- Relationships between tables (one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many)

Module 4: Writing Efficient and Transparent Code

Objective: Learn best practices for writing efficient, readable, and maintainable SQL code.
- How to structure SQL queries for clarity and performance
- Indexing and query optimization techniques
- Avoiding common performance pitfalls (e.g., unnecessary subqueries, inefficient joins)
- SQL code comments for clarity

Module 5: Presenting SQL Results

Objective: Learn how to format and present SQL query results for analysis or reporting
- Formatting output with SQL functions (e.g., CONCAT, CASE)
- Exporting results to different formats (CSV, Excel)
- Using subqueries for advanced data extraction
- SQL in business intelligence tools

Course Features

Quizzes & Assessments: Reinforce your learning with short quizzes and end-of-module assessments.
Real-World Use Cases: Learn how SQL is applied in industries like healthcare, business intelligence, and data analytics.

Disclaimer: The videos included have been thoughtfully selected to support and enrich the learning experience. While not essential to the completion of the course, they offer valuable insights that may deepen your understanding of the module content. Dr Data Insights does not claim authorship or involvement in the creation of these tutorials.