Medical Biostatistics, Second Edition
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Summary
Emphasizing statistical concepts used in medicine, the interpretation of methods, and applications, Medical Biostatistics, Second Edition shows how biostatistical methods are important tools in managing uncertainties in medicine and the health sciences. With coverage ranging from elementary topics, such as mean and standard deviation, to advanced approaches, such as logistic regression and multivariate methods, this edition is even more far-reaching in scope than its predecessor.
New to the Second Edition
Requiring only high school algebra, this text enables a solid understanding of the statistical concepts required to critically examine medical literature, scientifically plan and carry out medical investigations, and meaningfully analyze data.
Table of Contents
Preface
Medical Uncertainties
Uncertainties in Health and Disease
Uncertainties in Medical Research
Uncertainties in Health Planning and Evaluation
Management of Uncertainties: About This Book
Basics of Medical Studies
Study Protocol
Types of Medical Studies
Data Collection
Nonsampling Errors and Other Biases
Sampling Methods
Sampling Concepts
Common Methods of Random Sampling
Some Other Methods of Sampling
Some Examples of Sample Surveys
Designs for Observational Studies
Prospective Studies
Retrospective Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Comparative Performance of Prospective, Retrospective, and Cross-Sectional Studies
Medical Experiments
Basic Features of Medical Experiments
Design of Experiments
Choice and Sampling of Units for Laboratory Experiments
Clinical Trials
Therapeutic Trials
Issues in Clinical Trials
Trials Other Than for Therapeutics
Numerical Methods for Representing Variation
Types of Measurement
Tabular Presentation
Rates and Ratios
Central and Other Locations
Measuring Variability
Presentation of Variation by Figures
Graphs for Frequency Distribution
Pie, Bar, and Line Diagrams
Special Diagrams in Health and Medicine
Charts and Maps
Some Quantitative Aspects of Medicine
Some Epidemiological Measures of Health and Disease
Reference Values
Measurement of Uncertainty: Probability
Validity of Medical Tests
Clinimetrics and Evidence-Based Medicine
Indicators, Indexes, and Scores
Clinimetrics
Evidence-Based Medicine
Measurement of Community Health
Indicators of Mortality
Measures of Morbidity
Indicators of Social and Mental Health
Composite Indexes of Health
Confidence Intervals, Principles of Tests of Significance, and Sample Size
Sampling Distributions
Confidence Intervals
P-Values and Statistical Significance
An Initial Debate on Statistical Significance
Sample Size Determination in Some Cases
Inference from Proportions
One Qualitative Variable
Proportions in 2 × 2 Tables
Analysis of R × C Tables (Large n)
Three-Way Tables
Relative Risk and Odds Ratio
Relative and Attributable Risks (Large n)
Odds Ratio
Stratified Analysis and Sample Size
Inference from Means
Comparison of Means in One and Two Groups (Gaussian Conditions): Student’s t-Test
Comparison of Means in Three or More Groups (Gaussian Conditions): ANOVA F-Test
Non-Gaussian Conditions: Nonparametric Tests for Location
When Significant Is Not Significant
Relationships: Quantitative Data
Some General Features of a Regression Setup
Linear Regression Models
Some Issues in Regression
Measuring the Strength of a Quantitative Relationship
Assessment of Agreement
Relationships: Qualitative Dependent
Binary Dependent: Logistic Regression (Large n)
Inference from Logistic Coefficients
Issues in Logistic Regression
Some Models for Qualitative Data
Strength of Relationship in Quantitative Variables
Survival Analysis
Life Expectancy
Analysis of Survival Data
Issues in Survival Analysis
Simultaneous Consideration of Several Variables
Scope of Multivariate Methods
Dependent and Independent Sets of Variables
Identification of Structure in the Observations
Quality Considerations
Statistical Quality Control in Medical Care
Quality of Measurements
Quality of Statistical Models: Robustness
Quality of Data
Statistical Fallacies
Problems with the Sample
Errors in Presentation of Findings
Inadequate Analysis
Misinterpretation
Appendix 1: Statistical Software
General Purpose Statistical Software
Special Purpose Statistical Software
Appendix 2: Some Statistical Tables
Index
References appear at the end of each chapter.
Editorial Reviews
"…The 2nd edition contains a number of new, expanded or revised topics, including full chapters on clinical trials, observational studies, survival analysis and logistic regression. …The explanations given are clear and well written. The concepts are well illustrated with real examples. …this is a comprehensive and thoughtful introductory book on biostatistics. …"
—Andrew Hayen, University of Sydney, Australia, Statistics in Medicine, 2010, 29
"The book contains a fairly comprehensive introduction of basic statistical concepts and methods used in medical and health sciences. The basic idea is to give clear verbal explanations with good examples, avoiding heavy mathematical definitions or formulations. My opinion is that the author has succeeded very well in this challenging task. By the aid of the book, it should be relatively easy to get the main ideas, and if deeper understanding is needed, a list of further references is provided to each topic. … I can easily recommend this book for persons working in the area of medical biostatistics."
—International Statistical Review (2009), 77, 2
"The strength of this book is the range of topics, including research design and statistical methods for data analysis, and the fact that it focuses on conceptual understanding. The book contains adequate mathematical explanation, without going beyond the capability or interest of the intended audience. … contains much useful information … ."
—Marc Levine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Colombia, Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, Vol. 61, No. 1, January-February 2008
"In addition to thorough coverage of basic biostatical concepts and methods, this updated edition of Medical Biostatistics is enhanced with complete chapters on clinical trials, observational studies, laboratory experiments, survival analysis, and logistic regression … Medical Biostatistics is an indispensable textbook and a core addition to academic library and medical school research and reference collections."
—James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review, April 2009
Praise for the First Edition
“The book covers a wealth of information ranging from medical uncertainties to statistical fallacies. … a tour of the biostatistical field in clear and intelligent language…”
—Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Vol. 52, 2003
“To clinicians and other medical and health professionals, it will be of great help in planning and conducting investigational studies and in critically interpreting the medical literature, which is becoming increasingly statistical…”
—Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 97, 2002
“There is plenty of good advice about practical matters of presentation and interpretation, which, together with the chapter on statistical fallacies, make the book worthwhile reading for the user of biostatistics who may need such guidance…”
—Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics, Vol. 44, 2002
“This book contains state-of-the-art statistical methods with examples and references to planning of medical data collection, analyzing and interpreting the data…”
—Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation, Vol. 74, 2004
“This book is a serious attempt to medicalise the science of biostatistics and discuss statistical methods entirely from the perspective of medical and health professionals…”
—Resources for Teaching Statistics
“A very complete book on all aspects of medical biostatistics: probably the most complete book on biostatistics we have seen.”
—Analyse-it
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