Using & Understanding Medical Statistics

by D. E. Matthews

Book Overview

Since the last edition of this book was published, major developments in computer technology have affected both the practice of medicine and the methods of analyzing medical data. These advances make the focus of this revised edition - understanding many of the statistical methods that are used in modern medical studies-all the more important. Two new chapters have been added by the authors. One provides readers with an introduction to the analysis...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3805539320
• ISBN13: 9783805539326
• Release Date: November 1984
• Publisher: S. Karger AG (Switzerland)
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The "Gold Standard"

I have had the first edition of this book for decades. It has been a trusty reference for me, a practicing clinician with a need for statistics for clinical research. This "bible" gives a clearly understandable overview of common statistical approaches to clinical problems. It has proven an invaluable adjunct to computerized statistical packages: the book tells me the "why" in selecting a statistical method, while the software will do the "how." Without the book, it would be too easy to perform calculations that are inappropriate or have no relevance to the problem at hand. This new addition is a welcome update, with new sections on ROC analysis and other topics.

The language and principles of biostatistics made accessible

For what this book intends, it truly is outstanding. In general, the medical researcher of any kind is at a severe disadvantage in dealing with professional biostatisticians because often the two do not speak a common language. This very readable, interesting and clearly written book gives the scientist enough knowledge to deal with most relatively simple cases in a language that we understand. With the basic principles of medical statistics made comprehensible, we are able to understand many of the simpler software packages well enough to perform basic statistical analyses and, more importantly, are able to converse intelligently with biostatistical professionals and to design studies that will pass muster. Unlike another reviewer, I do not feel that not covering SAS or other software programs is a disadvantage. No book can cover everything, and this book covers the basics and intermediate levels far better than any book I have seen, certainly better than any biostatistics book written by biostatisticians intended for other biostatisticians. This book understands that biostatistics is a tool, not a fundamental discipline, for the vast majority of scientists and is written to them. The book serves as a ready reference and review if one does not perform these analyses on a daily basis. This book should be on the shelf of every life scientist.