A Practical Approach to Using Statistics in Health Research

A hands-on guide to using statistics in health research, from planning, through analysis, and on to reporting

A Practical Approach to Using Statistics in Health Research offers an easy to use, step-by-step guide for using statistics in health research. The authors use their experience of statistics and health research to explain how statistics fit in to all stages of the research process. They explain how to determine necessary sample sizes, interpret whether there are statistically significant difference in outcomes between groups, and use measured effect sizes to decide whether any changes are large enough to be relevant to professional practice.

The text walks you through how to identify the main outcome measure for your study and the factor which you think may influence that outcome and then determine what type of data will be used to record both of these.  It then describes how this information is used to select the most appropriate methods to report and analyze your data.  A step-by-step guide on how to use a range of common statistical procedures are then presented in separate chapters.  To help you make sure that you are using statistics robustly, the authors also explore topics such as multiple testing and how to check whether measured data follows a normal distribution.  Videos showing how to use computer packages to carry out all the various methods mentioned in the book are available on our companion web site. This book:

•    Covers statistical aspects of all the stages of health research from planning to final reporting

•    Explains how to report statistical planning, how analyses were performed, and the results and conclusion

•    Puts the spotlight on consideration of clinical significance and not just statistical significance

•    Explains the importance of reporting 95% confidence intervals for effect size

•    Includes a systematic guide for selection of statistical tests and uses example data sets and videos to help you understand exactly how to use statistics

Written as an introductory guide to statistics for healthcare professionals, students and lecturers in the fields of pharmacy, nursing, medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy, A Practical Approach to Using Statistics in Health Research:From Planning to Reporting is a handy reference that focuses on the application of statistical methods within the health research context. 

Adam Mackridge, Ph.D., is a Research Pharmacist at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in North Wales. He has over 15 years of experience in planning, conducting and reporting health research. He received his PhD in Pharmacy Practice from Aston University in Birmingham, UK.

Philip Rowe, Ph.D., is a Visiting Research Fellow in the School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK. He is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and has authored other statistically based books for Wiley.