This course provides an introduction to medical statistics, covering a number of the most commonly used basic analyses from both clinical and laboratory studies. The aim is to ensure that students can appraise the literature that includes the methods covered and also are able to use these methods to analyse datasets themselves.

The course will run during semester 1.

MED5341

Statistics assignment (80%), Peerwise online exercise (20%)

The course aims to provide core skills in critical review and data analysis for statistics in order to equip students for their own practice. It also aims to enable them to evaluate and understand the medical literature that utilises the statistical methods covered.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Understand common statistical terms such as p-value, confidence interval, etc;

■ Understand and carry out exploratory data analysis and basic statistical analysis;

■ Specify a relevant hypothesis in relation to a research question;

■ Display graphically and describe the data collected;

■ Carry out appropriate simple statistical analyses using a computer package such as Minitab or SPSS;

■ Interpret the results of a study and communicate them to both technical and lay audiences;

■ Critically appraise the statistical methods, results and clinical implications of published and other research.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.