75213 - Medical Statistics

Academic Year 2017/2018

Learning outcomes

The main objective of this course is to provide basic knowledge on the following items:

-descriptive statistics

-elements of probability

-rates and methods of standardization

-computation of basic statistics using Excel

Course contents

The course contents are based on four main topics:

Descriptive Statistics

Types of data, qualitative and quantitative variables, discrete and continuous variables

Data presentation: frequency tables (frequency counts, relative frequencies) and graphical representations (e.g. pie charts, bar charts, histograms, scatter plot, time series, cartograms)

Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode and percentiles)

Measures of variability (range, interquartile range, deviation, variance, standard deviation, variation coefficient)

Skewness and kurtosis

Relationships between two variables

Contingency Tables

Joint frequencies and joint relative frequencies

Conditional and marginal distributions

Relationships between two variables

Chi-squared statistics

Tschuprow’s T

Elements of Probability

Introduction to probability

Remarks on the concepts of probability

Definition of simple events and sample space

Operations on events (Venn diagrams)

Axioms of probability (Kolmogorov)

Rules of the probability (additive, multiplicative)

Conditional probability

Bayes’ theorem

Rates and Rate Standardization

Crude rates

Specific rates

Standardization of rates (direct and indirect methods)

Readings/Bibliography

M. Pagano, K. Gauvreau. Biostatistica. Idelson-Gnocchi, Napoli, 2003.

A. Montanari, P. Agati, D.G. Calò. OPEN STATISTICA con esercizi commentati e risolti. Masson, 1998.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Classroom exercises

Computer exercises (using Excel)

Assessment methods

Lab exam using Excel: 5-6 exercises to be solved using Excel. Each exercise is composed of different questions, including the interpretation of the findings.

The exam is located in the computer room (exam duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes).

Teaching tools

Computer lab

Teaching materials (accessible through IOL platform)

Office hours

See the website of Stefania Curti