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MA30086: Medical statistics

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Mathematical Sciences
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 25%, EX 75%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 25%)
  • Examination (EX 75%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: MA30086 Mandatory Extra Work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take MA20227
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To introduce the statistical terminology specific to medical applications; to describe a range of techniques suitable for use in typical medical problems; to focus on questions that are of particular interest to medical practitioners; and to emphasise the explanation of statistical ideas and methods to non-statisticians.

Learning Outcomes:
On completing the course, students should be able to:
* recognise the key statistical features of a medical research problem, and, where appropriate, suggest an appropriate study design;
* summarize medical data and identify possible sources of bias;
* analyse data collected from routine medical data sources, epidemiological studies and clinical trials;
* understand the ethical considerations and practical problems that govern medical experimentation.

Skills:
Numeracy T/F A
Problem Solving T/F A
Written and Spoken Communication T/F A

Content:
Revision of statistical tests set in a medical context and introduction of non-parametric tests. Measures of risk; incidence and prevalence and formulation of hypothesis tests and confidence intervals. Methods of standardization and standardized mortality ratios. Demographic life tables. Diagnostic tests and measures of agreement. Design of medical experiments and ethical considerations. Clinical trials: phases I to IV of drug development and testing. Possible sources of bias in medical studies; randomization, blinding, patient withdrawals and "intent to treat" analysis. Observational studies; cohort and case control studies. Relative risks and odds ratios; developing hypothesis tests and confidence intervals and interpretation. Sample size calculations. Survival analysis: censoring, life tables, survivor and hazard functions, Kaplan-Meier product limit estimator, log-rank test, Cox's proportional hazards model.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

MA30086 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Biology & Biochemistry Programmes in Natural Sciences
  • UXXX-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Year 3)
  • UXXX-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UXXX-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 4)
Department of Mathematical Sciences
  • USMA-AFB15 : BSc(Hons) Mathematical Sciences (Year 3)
  • USMA-AAB16 : BSc(Hons) Mathematical Sciences with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USMA-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Mathematical Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USMA-AFB13 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics (Year 3)
  • USMA-AAB14 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USMA-AKB14 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USMA-AFM14 : MMath(Hons) Mathematics (Year 3)
  • USMA-AFM14 : MMath(Hons) Mathematics (Year 4)
  • USMA-AAM15 : MMath(Hons) Mathematics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USMA-AKM15 : MMath(Hons) Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USMA-AKM15 : MMath(Hons) Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 5)
  • USMA-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Statistics (Year 3)
  • USMA-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Statistics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USMA-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics and Statistics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • TSMA-AFM09 : MSc Mathematical Sciences
  • TSMA-APM09 : MSc Mathematical Sciences
  • TSMA-AFM08 : MSc Modern Applications of Mathematics
  • TSMA-AWM14 : MSc Modern Applications of Mathematics
  • TSMA-AFL02 : PG Dip Modern Applications of Mathematics
  • USMA-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Statistics (Year 3)
  • USMA-AAB06 : BSc(Hons) Statistics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USMA-AKB06 : BSc(Hons) Statistics with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.