Statistical Remedies For Medical Researchers

This book illustrates numerous statistical practices that are commonly used by medical researchers, but which have severe flaws that may not be obvious. For each example, it provides one or more alternative statistical methods that avoid misleading or incorrect inferences being made. The technical level is kept to a minimum to make the book accessible to non-statisticians. At the same time, since many of the examples describe methods used routinely by medical statisticians with formal statistical training, the book appeals to a broad readership in the medical research community.

The explanation and implementation of statistical methods for themedical researcher or statistician remains an integral part ofmodern medical research. This book explains the use of experimentaland analytical biostatistics systems. Its accessible style allowsit to be used by the non-mathematician as a fundamental componentof successful research. Since the third edition, there have been many developments instatistical techniques. The fourth edition provides the medicalstatistician with an accessible guide to these techniques and toreflect the extent of their usage in medical research. The new edition takes a much more comprehensive approach to itssubject. There has been a radical reorganization of the text toimprove the continuity and cohesion of the presentation and toextend the scope by covering many new ideas now being introducedinto the analysis of medical research data. The authors have triedto maintain the modest level of mathematical exposition thatcharacterized the earlier editions, essentially confining themathematics to the statement of algebraic formulae rather thanpursuing mathematical proofs. Received the Highly Commended Certificate in the PublicHealth Category of the 2002 BMA BooksCompetition.

Statistical methodology is of great importance to medical research and clinical practice. The Encyclopaedic Companion to Medical Statistics contains readable accounts of the key topics central to current research and practice. Each entry has been written by an individual chosen for both their expertise in the field and their ability to communicate statistical concepts successfully to medical researchers. Real examples from the biomedical literature and relevant illustrations feature in many entries and extensive cross–referencing signposts the reader to related entries. Key Features: Contains accounts of over 400 statistical topics central to current medical research. 80% of first edition entries updated and revised. Presents the latest techniques used at the cutting edge of medical research. Covers common errors in statistical analyses in medicine. Real examples from the biomedical literature and relevant illustrations feature throughout. Contains contributions from over 70 experts in the field. Medical researchers, researchers and practitioners in medical research and statistics will benefit greatly from this book.

Most medical researchers, whether clinical or non-clinical, receive some background in statistics as undergraduates. However, it is most often brief, a long time ago, and largely forgotten by the time it is needed. Furthermore, many introductory texts fall short of adequately explaining the underlying concepts of statistics, and often are divorced from the reality of conducting and assessing medical research. Practical Statistics for Medical Research is a problem-based text for medical researchers, medical students, and others in the medical arena who need to use statistics but have no specialized mathematics background. The author draws on twenty years of experience as a consulting medical statistician to provide clear explanations to key statistical concepts, with a firm emphasis on practical aspects of designing and analyzing medical research. The text gives special attention to the presentation and interpretation of results and the many real problems that arise in medical research.

The explanation and implementation of statistical methods for the medical researcher or statistician remains an integral part of modern medical research. This book explains the use of experimental and analytical biostatistics systems. Its accessible style allows it to be used by the non-mathematician as a fundamental component of successful research. Since the third edition, there have been many developments in statistical techniques. The fourth edition provides the medical statistician with an accessible guide to these techniques and to reflect the extent of their usage in medical research. The new edition takes a much more comprehensive approach to its subject. There has been a radical reorganization of the text to improve the continuity and cohesion of the presentation and to extend the scope by covering many new ideas now being introduced into the analysis of medical research data. The authors have tried to maintain the modest level of mathematical exposition that characterized the earlier editions, essentially confining the mathematics to the statement of algebraic formulae rather than pursuing mathematical proofs. Received the Highly Commended Certificate in the Public Health Category of the 2002 BMA Books Competition.

Abstract: To explore the various aspects of statistics in biomathematics, a set of excerises for student completion are compiled, with most of the exercises using data from medical research; answers to the exercises are included. The scope of statistics is explored as well as: probability, sampling, statistical inference, regression and correlation, analysis of variance, multiple regression and multivariate analysis, data editing, sequential methods, statistical methods in epidemiology, and finally, biological assay. Sample exercises range from calculation the averge number of daily neonatal deaths when monthly statistics are supplied to estimating the median lethal concentration of new insecticide when death rate for varying concentrations are supplied.

This work explains the purpose of statistical methods in medical studies and analyzes the statistical techniques used by clinical investigators, with special emphasis on studies published in "The New England Journal of Medicine". It clarifies fundamental concepts of statistical design and analysis, and facilitates the understanding of research results.

During the last twenty years statistical methodology has become of central importance in research studies in medicine and also in day-to-day clinical practice. The medical literature is now liberally punctuated not only with relatively routine statistical terms such as p-value, t-test, confidence interval, and correlation, but also with more esoteric items such as hazard function, multilevel model, generalized estimating equations and crossover design. Consequently researchers in medicine and clinicians who are not primarily statisticians need to have a source that provides readable accounts of these terms so that they can understand at least the essence of the statistical aspects of both the design and analysis of a reported investigation. The Encyclopedic Companion to Medical Statistics is that source, containing readable accounts of over 500 statistical topics central to current medical research, with each entry being written by an expert in the field. Examples and graphical material supplement the written material in many entries, and extensive cross-referencing sign posts the reader to other entries that are likely to be relevant.