Statistical gem | |
Statistical methods for anaesthesia and intensive care. Paul Myles and Tony Gin. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000 (viii + 152 pp). ISBN 0 7506 4065 0. |
For some time
I have pondered on how a statistician chooses one method of analysis over another for a research project. One time it’s the Student’s t test and the next it’s ANOVA. Words such as parametric and non-parametric have always sounded quite “scientific”, but had no real meaning in my limited understanding of research methods. This book has changed all that. I can now recite definitions for confidence intervals, relative risks and odds ratios, but, more importantly, I can make more sense of the research I am trying to use to improve health outcomes for my patients.
Thirteen clear and concise chapters demystify how medical research data are described and analysed. Simple, worked examples illustrate the principles elegantly and effortlessly. Just a couple of hours will have you well on the way to understanding statistical methods used in health research. No longer will you have to say to yourself “I should know that” — you will “know that”. This would be a good book to consider using for Continuing Medical Education, Maintenance of Professional Standards and for all doctors in training. Why keep this little gem just for the intensivist and anaesthetist? It’s fantastic! Sue Inglis
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