Medical Statistics

Aim and Content

Aim:

The course will give an introduction to modern statistical methods in medical research

Contents:

The course will give the students knowledge about:

Study design, probability theory, descriptive statistics, diagnostic tests, fundamental distributions, important methodical concepts/measures, hypothesis testing, estimation, fundamental test procedures, correlation, logistic regression and survival analysis

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

After completing the course, the students should be able to explain the concepts

- research design

- probability theory

- descriptive statistics

- diagnostic tests

- fundamental distributions

- important methodical concepts/measures

- estimation and hypothesis testing

- correlation and regression

- logistic regression and survival analysis

Skills

After completing the course, the students should be able to

- describe a collection of observations both numerically and graphically

- calculate p-values and confidence intervals and interpret these in simple standard situations

- perform statistical analysis on medical data

General skills

After completing the course, the students should be able to

- critically evaluate the use of statistics in medical literature

Course offered (semester)

Spring

Language of Instruction

Norwegian

Course Unit Level

Bachelor/integrated master

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic mathematics R2 (Euclidean vectors, algebra, trigonometry, integrals, differential equations, functions) or the equivalent

Teaching Methods

The teaching is based on 26 hours of lectures.

Several assignments are handed out during the course. The students work with these in groups, assisted by a colloquium leader.

Assessment methods

Written exam

Grading Scale

Grading scale A-F

Reading List

Reading list on MySpace

Contact Information

Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care

E-mail: studie@isf.uib.no

Course coordinator: Rolv Skjærven

e-mail: Rolv.Skjarven@isf.uib.no