Medical Uses of Statistics

Published by the New England Journal of Medicine, this book provides both the fundamental techniques and the state-of-the-art information for a clear and current understanding of the use of statistics in the fields of medicine, biostatistics and clinical research. The first and second editions of this book, published over a span of a quarter of a century, has been widely praised as a unique contribution to the field by a gratifying number of readers. Arising from the idea that readers of medicine need a clearer idea of how statistical techniques can be applied in current clinical studies, the editors have reorganized, revamped, and added to an already cogent presentation of recent developments, applicable methods, and best practices in this valuable third edition. Contributions from more than two-dozen distinguished statisticians and medical doctors More than half of the content is new, and the remaining material reflects the new developments in the area of medical statistics that have occurred since the last edition (in 1992). Numerous examples based on research taken straight from the pages of the New England Journal of Medicine Two new chapters on statistical methods in epidemiologic studies New chapters on analyses of randomized clinical trials, including linear regresstion, categorical data analysis, meta-analysis, subgroup analyses, and risk analysis Assists the readers in effectively interpreting published results in clinical research.With its extensive updates and accessible stype, this modernized new edition is an essentail resource for anyone working in medicine, clinical research, or any health-related field of study.

JOHN C. BAILAR III, MD, PhD, is Scholar in Residence at the National Academy of Sciences and Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago. He served as Statistical Consultant for the New England Journal of Medicine for more than ten years and previously held the positions as Chair of the Board of the National Institute of Statistical Sciences. Dr. Bailar has published numerous papers in the areas of epidemiology and scientific communications.

DAVID C. HOAGLIN, PhD, is Principal Statistician at Abt Bio-Pharma Solutions, Inc., where he has spent thirty years working on studies and experiments in public health, income security, health services, housing, education, and law and justice. He has held faculty and research positions in statistics at Harvard University and also served for five years as Core Biostatistician for the Harvard Anaesthesia Center.  Dr. Hoaglin’s publications have ranged across diverse areas of methodology and application including exploratory data analysis, outliers, meta-analysis, surgery, anesthesia, vaccination, and multiple sclerosis.