Medicine and Surgery

Contents: Probability distribution (binomial and normal) and their properties and biomedical applications. Sampling distributons of proportions and means and their properties. Logic of statistical inference and of the long run (frequentist). Confidence intervals for sampling estimates. Statistical hypothesis test theory. Normal and t tests for single, paired and independent tests. Nonparametric tests and when to use them. Testing hypotheses on linear regression coefficients. Foundations and interpretation of logistic regression. APP: Using and interpreting common statistical tests: This APP, carried out first in small groups by students and then in the classroom is meant to apply to concrete scientific problem the theory of statistical tests of hypothesis, in various steps: understand the scientific problem, determine the appropriate test, apply the logic of inference, calculate the test and the p-value using statistical tables and interpreting the results.

Prerequisites Basic Knowledge of maths (calculus, algebra, analytic geometry) Descriptive Statistics and Basic Probability

Suggested Textbooks: Lecture slides/materials will be available via e-learning. Further readings : Kirkwood and Sterne, Essential Medical Statistics, Blackwell 2003 (reference book) Huff, D. How to lie with statistics. Vickers, A. J. What is a p-value anyway?

Mandatory

Evaluation methods: The written examination is made up of 7 questions, of which6 MCQs and one open question on applying and interpreting a test of biomedical hypothesis (similar to the one carried out in the APP)

Front lessons in classroom.