ABSTRACT

Basic Statistics and Epidemiology is a straightforward primer in basic statistics that emphasizes its practical use in epidemiology and public health, providing an understanding of essential topics such as study design, data analysis and statistical methods used in the execution of medical research.

Assuming no prior knowledge, the clarity of the text and care of presentation ensure those new to, or challenged by, these topics are given a thorough introduction without being overwhelmed by unnecessary detail. An understanding and appreciation of statistics is central to ensuring that professional practice is based on the best available evidence, in order to treat and help most appropriately the wider community. By reading this book, students, researchers, doctors, nurses and health managers will have the knowledge necessary to understand and apply the tools of statistics and epidemiology to their own practice.

chapter 1|2 pages

What are statistics?

chapter 2|2 pages

Populations and samples

chapter 3|4 pages

Random sampling

chapter 4|4 pages

Presenting data

chapter 6|4 pages

Types of data

chapter 7|4 pages

Mean, median and mode

chapter 8|2 pages

Centiles

chapter 9|4 pages

Standard deviation

chapter 10|2 pages

Standard error

chapter 11|4 pages

Normal distribution

chapter 12|4 pages

Confidence intervals

chapter 13|4 pages

Probability

chapter 14|4 pages

Hypothesis tests and P-values

chapter 15|6 pages

The t-tests

chapter 16|8 pages

Data checking

chapter 17|2 pages

Parametric and non-parametric tests

chapter 18|12 pages

Correlation and linear regression

chapter 20|6 pages

Chi-squared test

chapter 21|12 pages

Statistical power and sample size

chapter 22|6 pages

Effect size

chapter 23|2 pages

What is epidemiology?

chapter 24|4 pages

Bias and confounding

chapter 25|8 pages

Measuring disease frequency

chapter 26|8 pages

Measuring association in epidemiology

chapter 27|2 pages

Prevalence studies

chapter 28|6 pages

Questionnaires

chapter 29|4 pages

Cohort studies

chapter 30|4 pages

Case—control studies

chapter 31|4 pages

Randomised controlled trials

chapter 32|6 pages

Screening

chapter 33|16 pages

Evidence-based healthcare