Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

Practical applications of statistical methods in clinical and diagnostic settings. Methods for assessment of clinical agreement, statistical properties of diagnostic tests and their interpretation, statistical and ethical issues involved in screening tests & fundamentals of modelling for clinical prediction. In-depth analysis of issues in systematic reviews of medical research studies, including selection and appraisal of studies, levels of evidence, meta-analytic methods for estimating effect sizes using fixed and random effect models, assessing heterogeneity and publication bias.

Objectives

On completion of this course students should be able to:

1. demonstrate a broad understanding of statistical methods in evidence-based health care;
2. determine appropriate statistical methods of particular relevance to evidence-based health care in particular clinical applications; and
3. correctly employ these statistical methods and have the skills to effectively communicate with clinicians on the application of these methods and interpretation of results.

Assessment

Written assignments (100%).

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Andrew Forbes

Prerequisites

MPH1040, EPM5002 and EPM5014

Co-requisites

EPM5003

Prohibitions

This unit is only available to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters of Biostatistics.

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/epidemiology/pgrad