Using and Understanding Medical Statistics
By David E. Matthews, Vernon T. Farewell
Publisher: Not Avail
Number Of Pages: 322
Publication Date: 2007-01-31
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 3805581890
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9783805581899
Binding: Hardcover
Univ. of Waterloo, Canada. Presents many of the more complex statistical methods and techniques currently appearing in medical publications. This edition features new chapters on Poisson regression, the analysis of variance, meta-analysis, diagnostic tests, and more. For clinicians. Previous edition: c1996. Expanded-outline format. DNLM: Biometry-methods.
Summary: The language and principles of biostatistics made accessible
Rating: 5
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.
Summary: Intermediate Level Medical Statistics
Rating: 3
Want to get beyond primers and introductory texts but lack the background and expertise for the advanced texts. Here is a truly intermediate text which covers a broad range of topics and permits the reader to advance to the next level. This book is chock full of insights without getting mired down in technical detail and nomenclature. It delves just deep enough to give the arguments a foundation and extends them up to the point of clarity without undue complexity. It can be read by anyone with a basic understanding and is a good text for epidemiologically oriented medical scientists. I wish that it was paired with an advanced text that explored each one of the topics in more depth since many of the techniques are not described in enough detail to perform the analysis without refering to other source material. Some greater attention could also be given to the well established statistical software packages such as SAS, SPSS, and STATA. It does repeatedly make the valuable point that if you proceed through an analysis without professional biostatistical consultation you are likely to be short changing your study or even commiting errors. Take heed. It is important to know enough biostatistics to understand the techniques but in almost all cases it is better to work with a professional biostatician than to go it alone. I only wish that there were more medically savvy biostaticians like Matthews and Farewell.
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