An Introduction to Medical Statistics (Oxford Medical Publications)

While titled an Introduction, this book contains a wealth of detail, strategy, practical examples and generous sharing of the author's experience, including traps for the unwary. I like the author's direct, self-effacing style and how every topic receives broad coverage. It is not a HOW TO book, but an education, if you are prepared to absorb all it has to offer.

This is the second edition of an excellent introductory text for medical students similar to Doug Altman's. Bland covers the basics: designing clinical trials and epidemiological studies, data collection, summarizing data, basic probability, standard errors and confidence intervals along with tests of significance (both parametric and nonparametric). Various types of regression methods are covered and this edition adds Cox proportional hazards models and meta-analysis. Many exercises and examples are taken from Bland's 20 years of experience as a medical statistician. It is noteworthy for dealing with sample size issues in Chapter 18. Mortality statistics and life tables are covered in Chapter 16. The book is not quite as advanced as Altman's.

Seems a good basic sufficent stand-alone stats book for medical professional (ie non specialised statistician), although admittedly I haven't used many others to compare, covering a comprehensive cross section of the commonly used medical science stats techniques, with excellent basic maths / stats principles that are relatively easy to understand for those with a basic mathematics background (higher secondary school). Possibly too light on for some more complex stat techniques (eg multi-variate analysis - eg no mention of cluster or hierarchial or other specifically indicated analysis etc.) - ie newer edition mayn't have moved sufficiently with the times. Nonetheless a good solid stats background, very readable, and responsible in imploring appropiate use of stats. Very usable reference and / or learning book.

Clearly and logically set out starting with the reasons for medical statistics and how studies are designed and moving logically to the methods used. All practicing doctors need to know something about medical statistics. This is a very good place to start. It is written for non-mathematicians but has enough mathematics to justify the information presented and stimulate further interest. It is a relatively short book with clear logical explanations rather than flashy illustrations and computer graphics. Also provides exercises, essential in all mathematical subjects.