Tutorial in Biostatistics

Biomedical research plays a crucial role in the practice of medicine and public health and has multiple components which include creation of data collection instruments, processes of collection of data, storage of data in an electronic database, its management for accuracy and quality, and finally, statistical analysis of the research data. Biomedical research owing to its in-depth knowledge-based practices and drive for life-changing results has spawned novel opportunities at various levels. In this scenario, the need for well-trained experts in the areas of database design and data management and biostatistics cannot be over-emphasized. This tutorial in biostatistics intends to introduce the biomedical researchers, especially, those who are involved in the clinical trials, to the fundamentals of bio-statistical methodologies that are commonly used in clinical trials. The first part of the tutorial is a brief introduction to concepts such as
Type I () and Type II () Errors Power of the test Relationship between and Test statistic, critical region and p-value Standard Error and confidence interval Statistical Hypotheses Conclusion

The second part of the tutorial introduces the following statistical methodologies:
One sample statistical tests: Binomial, z, t, median and 2 Goodness-of-Fit tests Two Independent Samples t test (for Equal and Unequal Variances) and its nonparametric counterpart, Wilcoxon Rank Sum test Two-Sample Proportion tests using Normal Theory approach and Contingency Table analysis Corrected Z test statistic and Corrected Chi-Square test statistic Fishers Exact test McNemars test Paired t-test and its nonparametric counterpart, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Kruskal-Wallis test Pearson correlation Simple linear regression Kappa statistic Odds Ratio Relative Risks

Each statistical methodology will be introduced through

a clinical example assumptions required for using the methodology Excel spreadsheets showing the statistical computations interpretation of statistical output leading to appropriate conclusions

The tutorial is going to be highly intense lasting about approximately 4 to 6 hours. Each participant will be given a CD with the tutorial materials. Participants are highly encouraged to use their laptops during the presentation. The software required on their laptop is Microsoft Word as well as Excel 2003.
Lakshminarayan Rajaram, Ph.D. V.P., Clinical Research & Biostatistics Development, Quantum Enterprises, Inc., www.quantument.com