How to report statistics in medicine

OVERALL RATING Excellent

STRENGTHS Comprehensive; successfully explains complex statistical concepts; well organized

WEAKNESSES None

AUDIENCE Health practitioners, especially family physicians

Written for health care providers in a language that is neither condescending nor full of jargon, How to Report Statistics in Medicine is a very comprehensive book about statistics. The authors accurately explain complex statistical concepts without overwhelming readers with how to obtain the results.

The book helps readers to properly report and understand research findings; it does not attempt to teach how each technique is applied to the data.

The authors emphasize the importance of comprehending the assumptions from various statistical techniques used to analyze data and present the strengths and limitations of each technique with reasons that are easy to understand.

The book’s introduction is a great navigational tool for readers, as it helps them quickly find the chapters relevant to their needs. The introduction is followed by a section called Differences Between Clinical and Statistical Significance, an area usually neglected by textbooks despite its importance in understanding research results.

The book is divided into 6 parts, which include chapters within them. Chapters contain many examples that illustrate the main points, and each chapter has its own list of references. There is also an extensive list of general references provided for the reader with an appetite for more details.

Statistical terms are boldfaced throughout the book, making readers more comfortable with the jargon. Guidelines are numbered for easy reference, and icons are used to indicate special features of the guidelines.

I highly recommend this book to all health practitioners. The breadth of topics covered in the book is particularly useful to family physicians, as their practices cover a range of clinical areas.

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