Preface 6
Learning objectives 8
Handling data
1 Types of data 14
2 Data entry 16
3 Error checking and outliers 18
4 Displaying data diagrammatically 20
5 Describing data: the ‘average’ 22
6 Describing data: the ‘spread’ 24
7 Theoretical distributions: the Normal distribution 26
8 Theoretical distributions: other distributions 28
9 Transformations 30
Sampling and estimation
10 Sampling and sampling distributions 32
11 Confidence intervals 34
Study design
12 Study design I 36
13 Study design II 38
14 Clinical trials 40
15 Cohort studies 44
16 Case–control studies 47
Hypothesis testing
17 Hypothesis testing 50
18 Errors in hypothesis testing 52
Basic techniques for analysing data
Numerical data
19 Numerical data: a single group 54
20 Numerical data: two related groups 57
21 Numerical data: two unrelated groups 60
22 Numerical data: more than two groups 63
Categorical data
23 Categorical data: a single proportion 66
24 Categorical data: two proportions 69
25 Categorical data: more than two categories 72
Regression and correlation
26 Correlation 75
27 The theory of linear regression 78
28 Performing a linear regression analysis 80
29 Multiple linear regression 84
30 Binary outcomes and logistic regression 88
31 Rates and Poisson regression 92
32 Generalized linear models 96
33 Explanatory variables in statistical models 98
Important considerations
34 Bias and confounding 102
35 Checking assumptions 106
36 Sample size calculations 108
37 Presenting results 112
Additional chapters
38 Diagnostic tools 115
39 Assessing agreement 118
40 Evidence-based medicine 122
41 Methods for clustered data 124
42 Regression methods for clustered data 127
43 Systematic reviews and meta-analysis 130
44 Survival analysis 133
45 Bayesian methods 136
46 Developing prognostic scores 138
Appendices
A Statistical tables 142
B Altman’s nomogram for sample size calculations 149
C Typical computer output 150
D Glossary of terms 163
E Chapter numbers with relevant multiple - choice questions and structured questions from Medical Statistics at a Glance Workbook 174
Index 175