Basic statistics and epidemiology: a practical guide

Most healthcare professionals need to be able to read and understand clinical evidence, and make a judgment on what treatments are effective. To do this, they need a basic grounding in statistics and epidemiology. These are areas which many people find hard to understand, fear or find distinctly uncomfortable. However, this book aims to help readers by stimulating their interest and helping them understand the basics quickly and simply. It provides doctors, nurses, health managers, researchers and students with a concise, practical guide. This straightforward primer in basic statistics emphasises its practical use in epidemiology and public health, providing understanding of essential topics such as study design, data analysis and statistical methods used in the execution of medical research. Clearly worded and assuming no prior knowledge, it gives full step-by-step guidance on performing statistical calculations. Illustrated by numerous examples, and containing exercises with detailed answers, it should help readers grasp the main points of these complex subjects with ease. "As a basic text, it is invaluable; for the lay reader who wants to know the elements of epidemiological method, it will be very useful too." - Klim McPherson, in the Foreword. "A spectacular approach to writing a book of this nature. I have found it to be very useful in my day-to-day work activities. I would have loved to have this sort of book when I was in University. It gives a detailed orientation for beginners and a great review for those wanting to look up a topic without the exhausting details." - Jocelyn Murray, Epidemiologist, NASA, USA. "This is probably the clearest and best presented statistics book I have read. I will definitely be keeping a copy on my bookshelf!" - "Clinical Oncology". "An excellent book - clear and well written, providing a really good basic grounding in both statistics and epidemiology." - Nick Spencer, Professor of Child Health, Warwick University. "This book will be invaluable for those of us whose eyes gaze over when confronted with anything but the simplest statistics. Definitions are all in plain English. Worked examples, showing how various numerical entities are derived, are particularly clear. This book offers succinct insights for those of us who, whether we like it or not, have to use or interpret statistics." - "Postgraduate Medical Journal". "This excellent book really does fill a gap in the market and will be a valuable tool for anyone with a developing interest in statistical and epidemiology concepts." - "International Journal of Epidemiology". "All medical researchers (both clinical and the other sort) should be forced to read this book." - "Vernon Coleman's Newsletter".