Overview

Medical statistics plays an essential role in all stages of a quantitative health care research project from design through to analysis and interpretation.

This intensive course covers the essential principles and methods required. Emphasis is on study design, appropriate analysis, and interpretation of results. The underlying concepts of statistical analysis as well as basic and some more advanced analysis techniques are covered.

Sessions include lectures and computer practicals. The course has been running for more than 30 years and is taught by experienced medical statisticians.

Who this course is for

The course is relevant to all health care professionals or anyone in the health care field who needs to understand, use or carry out health care research studies.

Material covered is of an introductory and intermediate level and provides some references and foundation for more advanced techniques.

The course assumes a familiarity with the statistical terms used in the medical literature (e.g. P-values and confidence intervals) but does not assume any deep understanding.

Course content

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to Data Analysis
• Overview of Study Design
• Design of Randomised Trials
• Design of Observational Studies
• Estimation and Hypothesis Testing
• Comparing Groups of Categorical Data
• Risk, Rates and Odds
• Comparing Groups of Continuous Data
• Correlation and Linear Regression
• Further Regression Topics
• Logistic Regression
• Missing Data
• Analysis of Survival Data
• Sample Size Calculations
• Analysis of Clustered Data
• Advanced Issues in Trials
• Meta-Analysis

Teaching and structure

Sessions include lectures and computer practicals.

The computer practicals are conducted using the statistical software Stata. No prior knowledge is required and a license is provided for the duration of the course. Please note that the main purpose of using Stata in this course is to teach statistical concepts through examples, rather than teaching how to use a particular software package.

Certificates and assessment

This course is accredited with 22 CPD points from the Royal College of Physicians. Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of attendance.

Learning outcomes

The course aims to teach health care researchers the essential elements of research methodology and statistics. The focus is mainly on interpretation and understanding appropriate methodology.

At the end of the course the participants will have gained an understanding of:

• The various design possibilities for a research project, and the important considerations for observational studies and randomised trials
• The types of data generated in research studies
• The most common methods of analysis for categorical and continuous data, including regression methods and survival analysis
• When particular methods are appropriate and how to interpret their results
• Reviewing and appraising published research

Cost and concessions

The course fees are as follows:

• Public Sector: £550 (until 1 May) £650 (from 2 May)
• Commercial Sector: £750 (until 1 May) £850 (from 2 May)

Limited places at reduced rate are available for UCL Medical School staff before 15th January. Please email uclh.biostatistics@nhs.net for further information.

Course team

UCL Statistical Science

Prof Rumana Omar

Prof Gareth Ambler

Dr Julie Barber

Dr Baptiste Leurent

Dr Menelaos Pavlou

Dr Martin Wiegand 

MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL

Prof Ian White

Prof Andrew Copas 

Course information last modified: 23 Nov 2023, 10:54