Practical Biostatistics: A Friendly Step-by-Step Approach for Evidence-based Medicine

by Mendel Suchmacher, Mauro Geller

Overview

Evidence-based medicine aims to apply the best available evidence gained from the scientific method to medical decision making. It is a practice that uses statistical analysis of scientific methods and outcomes to drive further experimentation and diagnosis. The profusion of evidence-based medicine in medical practice and clinical research has produced a need for life scientists and clinical researchers to assimilate biostatistics into their work to meet efficacy and practical standards. Practical Biostatistics provides researchers, medical professionals, and students with a friendly, practical guide to biostatistics. With a detailed outline of implementation steps complemented by a review of important topics, this book can be used as a quick reference or a hands-on guide to effectively incorporate biostatistics in clinical trials. - Customized presentation for biological investigators with examples taken from current clinical trials in multiple disciplines - Clear and concise definitions and examples provide a pragmatic guide to bring clarity to the applications of statistics in improving human health - Addresses the challenge of assimilation of mathematical concepts to better interpret literature, to build stronger studies, to present research effectively, and to improve communication with supporting biostatisticians

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780124158573
Publisher:	Elsevier Science & Technology Books
Publication date:	07/26/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Mendel Suchmacher, MD, MSc, graduated in Pharmaceutical Medicine at Federal University of the State of São Paulo, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hematology-Hemotherapy and member of the American College of Physicians. He holds teaching and research positions at prestigious Brazilian institutions: Professor of Clinical Immunology at Carlos Chagas Institute of Medical Graduation; Professor & Chairman of Microbiology and Immunology, and Research Fellow at Teresopolis University Medical School - UNIFESO; Professor & Coordinator of the Genodermatoses Sector of the Clinical Genetics Service at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Additionally, he is member of the clinical staff of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein.Mauro Geller, MD, PhD, holds an MD degree from Teresopolis University Medical School, a PhD in Clinical Medicine from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and a Post-doc in Immunogenetics from Harvard University. He has extensive experience in the field of clinical immunology, especially in the areas of clinical medicine, tumoral immunology, genetics and immunodiagnostics. Dr. Geller is founding member and current medical director of the Brazilian National Neurofibromatosis Center; fellow of the American College of Physicians and of the Royal Society of Medicine; member of the European Society of Gene Therapy; and member of the Brazilian Societies of Immunology, Microbiology and Genetics. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Immunology, Allergy and Public Health. Dr. Geller also has extensive experience with research in the areas of immunology, microbiology and genetics, as well as with clinical research, and has published 137 papers, 8 book chapters, and 4 books. He also serves as ad hoc advisor to the Brazilian National Institute of Health (ANVISA) and is member of the clinical staff of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein.

Table of Contents

PART 1 - STUDY TYPE DETERMINATION1. Epidemiological studies 2. Analytical studies 3. Summary PART 2 - OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES 4. Determination of association strength between an exposure factor and an event in observational studies5. Increasing accuracy in observational studies PART 3 - STEP-BY-STEP BIOSTATISTICS OF A CLINICAL TRIAL6. STEP 1: Investigator's hypothesis and expression of its corresponding outcome7. STEP 2: n estimation and n assessment of a published trial8. STEP 3: Organization of variables and endpoints9. STEP 4: Measures for results expression of a clinical trial10. STEP 5: Determination of normality or non-normality of data distribution 11. STEP 6: Hypothesis testing12. STEP 7: Correlating sample data with the general population - 95% confidence Interval PART 4 - ADDITIONAL CONCEPTS IN BIOSTATISTICS13. Individual and collective benefit and risk indexes inferable from intervention cohort studies14. Statistical assessment of diagnostic tests for the clinic15. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses16. Correlation and regression17. Per protocol analysis and intention to treat analysis

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

A concise guide for the interpretation and writing of observational studies and clinical trials

Editorial Reviews

"...strongly recommended as a practical guide for readers interested in applied biostatistics. Each chapter of the book is accompanied by practical examples and a huge set of reflection questions and answers." —Zentralblatt MATH, Practical Biostatistics

"With a detailed outline of implementation steps complemented by a review of important topics, this book can be used as a quick reference or a hands-on guide to effectively incorporate biostatistics in clinical trials." —Doody.com, April 2013

"Practical Biostatistics is destined to be a companion book for health professionals and graduation students who face the challenge of assimilating concepts on statistics." —Mauri Carakushansky, MD, Pediatric Endocrinologist - Nemours Children's Clinic Orlando, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics - Florida State University, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics - University of Central Florida

"This work by Dr. Suchmacher and Dr. Geller is bound to become a classic and should be readily available on the desk, shelf and on line." —Salin Dahlben, Harvard University, Clinical Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, Tufts University

"Dr. Suchmacher and Dr. Geller are experienced researchers and writers in the clinical research field, who were able to fathom the often confusing realm of Statistics applied to biological sciences, and to come back with a pragmatic study proposal for interested medical students and healthcare professionals […] In my opinion, 'Practical Biostatistics' will undoubtedly be welcomed as one of the books designed to bring medical students and healthcare professionals alike, closer to a better understanding of this inescapable issue." —Spyros G.E. Mezitis, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, The New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill, Cornell Medical Center

"I believe the result of [Drs. Suchmacher and Geller’s] efforts will prove useful for many medical students and researchers, who must thrive in an era when Biostatistics is destined to be an ever present matter." —Allan E. Rubenstein, Clinical Professor of Neurology, The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Langone Medical Center, School of Medicine, New York University

"Practical Biostatistics is destined to be a companion book for health professionals and graduation students who face the challenge of assimilating concepts on statistics." —Mauri Carakushansky, MD, Pediatric Endocrinologist - Nemours Children's Clinic Orlando, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics - Florida State University, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics - University of Central Florida

From the Publisher