Includes bibliographical references and index.

Overview of the use of basic statistical methods in medical studies -- Pt. 1. Discussion of Case Studies. 1. Preliminary trial of the effect of general practice based nutritional advice. 2. Randomized controlled trial of anti-smoking advice by nurses in general practice. 3. Psychological distress: outcome and consultation rates in one general practice. 4. Use of regression analysis to explain the variation in prescribing rates and costs between family practitioner committees. 5. Hidden psychiatric illness: use of the general health questionnaire in general practice. 6. A randomized controlled trial of surgery for glue ear -- Pt. 2. Statistical Methods. 7. Data, tables, graphs, summary statistics and probability. 8. Hypothesis tests and confidence intervals for means. 9. More on comparing means, the analysis of variance and the F-test. 10. Hypothesis tests and confidence intervals for percentages. 11. Further tests for percentages. 12. Regression and correlation.

13. Sensitivity and specificity. 14. Study design. 15. Calculators and computers.

A firm understanding of the basic statistical methods used in current medical literature is now essential for medical practice as research papers have become increasingly statistical in nature. This book has a unique case-study approach starting with six actual research papers showing which statistical methods were used and how the results were obtained. It will enable the medical professional to understand the methods in an easy and accessible way. Essential Statistics for Medical Practice focuses on the most useful and commonly practised techniques and will therefore enable the reader to use the medical literature more knowledgeably and critically.

All Ages.