Basic Epidemiology And Biostatistics

Concise, fast-paced, intensive introduction to clinical research design for students and clinical research professionals Readers will gain sufficient knowledge to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination part I section in Epidemiology

Here is a book for clinicians, clinical investigators, trainees, and graduates who wish to develop their proficiency in the planning, execution, and interpretation of clinical and epidemiological research. Emphasis is placed on the design and analysis of research studies involving human subjects where the primary interest concerns principles of analytic (cause-and- effect) inference. The topic is presented from the standpoint of the clinician and assumes no previous knowledge of epidemiology, research design or statistics. Extensive use is made of illustrative examples from a variety of clinical specialties and subspecialties. The book is divided into three parts. Part I deals with epidemiological research design and analytic inference, including such issues as measurement, rates, analytic bias, and the main forms of observational and experimental epidemiological studies. Part II presents the principles and applications of biostatistics, with emphasis on statistical inference. Part III comprises four chapters covering such topics as diagnostic tests, decision analysis, survival (life-table) analysis, and causality.

Biostatistics and Epidemiology/A Primer for Health Professionals offers practical guidelines and gives a concise framework for research and interpretation in the field. In addition to major sections covering statistics and epidemiology, the book includes a comprehensive exploration of scientific methodology, probability, and the clinical trial. The principles and methods described in this book are basic and apply to all medical subspecialties, psychology and education. The primer will be especially useful to public health officials and students looking for an understandable treatment of the subject.

A Certain Kind of Wisdom In Plato’s Apology, the Greek philosopher Socrates is on trial to defend himself against the allegation of corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates denies this charge and offers an alternate reason for why he is on trial. He explains, “[w]hat has caused my reputation is none other than a certain kind of wisdom. What kind of wisdom? Human wisdom, perhaps(1). ” He proceeds to tell the story of his friend Chaerophon, who once asked the Oracle at Delphi whether there was anyone wiser than Socrates. The Oracle answered that there was not. Socrates did not agree and thought that he would try to prove the Oracle wrong. And so he set about seeking out Athenians with a reputation for wisdom in various regards in order to test their claims to knowledge through questioning. He discovered many with false claims to knowledge and none with genuine wisdom and ultimately concluded that he was the wisest. He reached this conclusion not because of any special knowledge he possessed that others did not, but rather because he recognized his own lack of knowledge and strived to learn more, while others thought that they were kno- edgeable but were not. Socrates’ conclusion that there is wisdom in recognizing the limitations of accepted knowledge represents the motivation for this book.

Anyone who attempts to read genetics or epidemiology research literature needs to understand the essentials of biostatistics. This book, a revised new edition of the successful Essentials of Biostatistics has been written to provide such an understanding to those who have little or no statistical background and who need to keep abreast of new findings in this fast moving field. Unlike many other elementary books on biostatistics, the main focus of this book is to explain basic concepts needed to understand statistical procedures. This Book: Surveys basic statistical methods used in the genetics and epidemiology literature, including maximum likelihood and least squares. Introduces methods, such as permutation testing and bootstrapping, that are becoming more widely used in both genetic and epidemiological research. Is illustrated throughout with simple examples to clarify the statistical methodology. Explains Bayes’ theorem pictorially. Features exercises, with answers to alternate questions, enabling use as a course text. Written at an elementary mathematical level so that readers with high school mathematics will find the content accessible. Graduate students studying genetic epidemiology, researchers and practitioners from genetics, epidemiology, biology, medical research and statistics will find this an invaluable introduction to statistics.

Basic epidemiology provides an introduction to the core principles and methods of epidemiology, with a special emphasis on public health applications in developing countries. This edition includes chapters on the nature and uses of epidemiology; the epidemiological approach to defining and measuring the occurrence of health-related states in populations; the strengths and limitations of epidemiological study designs; and the role of epidemiology in evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of health care. The book has a particular emphasis on modifiable environmental factors and encourages the application of epidemiology to the prevention of disease and the promotion of health, including environmental and occupational health.

This book will familiarize your students with basic principles of epidemiology and biostatistics. Designed for use in a single course, it will clarify the distinction and complementary roles of epidemiology and biostatistics in a range of settings, and train students on the complementary roles epidemiology and biostatistics play in carrying out selected activities in the health professions.

Biostatistics for Epidemiologists is a unique book that provides a collection of methods that can be used to analyze data in most epidemiological studies. It examines the theoretical background of the methods described and discusses general principles that apply to the analysis of epidemiological data. Specific topics addressed include statistical interference in epidemiological research, important methods used for analyzing epidemiological data, multivariate models, dose-response analysis, analysis of the interaction between causes of disease, meta-analysis, and computer programs. Biostatistics for Epidemiologists will be a useful guide for all epidemiologists and public health professionals who rely on biostatistical data in their work.