Product Description

Statistical Questions in Evidence-based Medicine is a book of questions and answers about the statistical principles and methods used in medical research. Based entirely on material published in the medical literature and popular media, it will prove invaluable to medical students, doctors, nurses, medical researchers and others concerned with medical data. This book is a companion volume to the new 3rd edition of An Introduction to Medical Statistics but can also be used in conjunction with the 2nd edition or with other good texts. Short excerpts of material from published papers or summaries of their results are presented with questions. These test and develop the reader's understanding and interpretation of statistics and extend the reader's research and critical appraisal skills, thus encouraging an evidence-based approach. Questions are presented on the left-hand page with detailed answers on the right-hand page. Answers include references to core material in An Introduction to Medical Statistics. The book is intended as a series of examples for self-teaching but could also be read as a series of case studies with detailed commentaries. The questions are clearly graded, using icons, in terms of difficulty and undergraduate or postgraduate level. The book is easy to use and a model of clarity for the reader.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #396090 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 251 pages

Review
The questions in the book are genuinely stimulating, the answers are thoroughly explained and it is well set out in a simple layout . . . This book really sharpens the mind for the task of critically appraising medical data; an important skill in the culture of evidence-based medicine. (Barts and the London Chronicle, Vol 5, Issue 2 )

From the Author
Statistical Questions in Evidence-based Medicine
The book consists of a set of questions and answers. The questions are printed on the left-hand page with the answers on the right-hand page. The reader can conceal the answers while reading the question, revealing them to check the answer. Some questions are relatively straightforward, for example asking about the meaning of statistical terms. Others are more difficult, for example asking why a particular technique was used or was inappropriate, or whether the interpretation was correct. Difficult questions are indicated with a ! symbol in the margin. Questions which cover material which would not usually be covered in undergraduate courses for medical and other healthcare students are also indicated in the margin, by a + symbol.

The questions are almost all based on published medical research, with a few drawn from the general media. The book follows the structure of my book An Introduction to Medical Statistics, 2nd and 3rd Editions. Answers are complete and self-contained, but have in addition cross-references to An Introduction to Medical Statistics. You do not need a copy of An Introduction to Medical Statistics (great though it may be!) to use Statistical Questions in Evidence-based Medicine, however. Each chapter starts with a one-page summary of the concepts and methods which it covers, and any good textbook can be used to supplement this.

You can try before you buy. Specimen questions and answers, including some cross-links to sections of An Introduction to Medical Statistics, can be read on my website.

Janet Peacock and I hope you like our book.

About the Author
Martin Bland is Professor of Medical Statistics and Janet Peacock is Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics both in the Department of Public Health Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, UK.