This book provides a selection of 23 lesson and seminar outlines designed to encourage the well-organized teaching of health statistics. Noting the central role of statistics in epidemiology and public health, the book responds to the growing need for all health professionals to acquire competence in the use and interpretation of statistics. With this need in mind, the book concentrates on a core of statistical knowledge judged important for all categories of health trainees, including medical students. Throughout, emphasis is placed on statistical principles and methods that can help health personnel make rational decisions, whether concerning the management of individual patients or the monitoring of health systems and services. Topics selected for inclusion represent an internationally applicable basic curriculum intended to assist teachers when preparing lessons and seminars and deciding on course content. Information ranges from examples of wrong or misleading diagrammatic presentations of data, through a handout showing the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of sampling, to an explanation of steps to follow when planning a health survey. Now in its second edition, the book has been updated and expanded to reflect extensive recent technological developments in data handling and information communication. New topics covered include the use of health indicators in monitoring and surveillance, systems for the information-based management of health services, the use of computers in health sciences, and rapid methods for interim assessment. Lesson and seminar outlines are presented in three parts. These cover statistical principles and methods, health statistics, including demography and vital statistics, and statistics in medicine, including medical records. Each outline includes a clear statement of objectives and detailed suggestions for content and structure, followed by examples, exercises, and handouts for students.
Author(s): O. Ayeni, S.K. Lwanga, C-Y Tye
Edition: Second Edition
Publisher: World Health Organization
Year: 1999
Language: English
Pages: 242
Cover......Page 1
Front Matter......Page 2
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 9
Introduction......Page 11
PART I Statistical principles and methods......Page 15
1. Introduction to the role of statistics inhealth sciences and health care delivery......Page 17
2. Health data: sources, levels and quality of measurement......Page 25
3. Health information systems......Page 37
4. Organization and presentation of data......Page 44
5. Measures of central tendency and location......Page 57
6. Measures of variability......Page 65
7. Introduction to probability and probability distributions......Page 72
8. Sampling and estimating population values......Page 80
9. Tests of statistical significance......Page 93
10. Association, correlation and regression......Page 105
PART II Health statistics, includingdemography and vital statistics......Page 117
11. Censuses and vital registration......Page 119
12. Measurement of morbidity......Page 128
13. Measurement of mortality......Page 136
14. Measurement of fertility......Page 147
15. Population dynamics......Page 152
16. Indicators of levels of health......Page 159
PART III Statistics in medicine,including medical records......Page 169
17. Medical records and health facility statistics......Page 171
18. International Classification of Diseases (lCD) and certification of causes of death......Page 183
19. Design of health investigations: health surveys and clinical trials......Page 192
20. Use of computers in health sciences......Page 205
21. Rapid methods for interim assessment......Page 212
22. Statistical and medical ethics......Page 217
23. Critique of a scientific paper......Page 225
ANNEX A Supplementary data sets......Page 229
ANNEX B Statistical tables......Page 234
ANNEX C Random numbers......Page 237
Index......Page 239
