Introductory description

This module is available for students on a course where it is a listed option and as an Unusual Option to students who have the required background as covered in the pre-requisite modules.

Pre-requisite: ST346 Generalised Linear Models for Regression and Classification or ST426 Generalised Linear Models with Advanced Topics. For Year 4 integrated masters students ST404 Applied Statistical Modelling is an alternative to ST346.

For anti-requisite modules please check under the availability tab and in the course handbook.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

• Study designs: cohort, case-control and survey designs; randomised clinical trials; adaptive clinical trial designs.
  Analysis of censored survival data: Life tables; hazard and survival functions; Kaplan-Meier survival curves; parametric survival models, the proportional hazards regression model.

• Systematic reviews and meta-analysis: Systematic reviews summarise evidence on particular medical topics; meta-analyses use statistical methods such as glms to summarise studies included in systematic reviews; publication bias and funnel plots; Cochrane reviews.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• appreciate the role of statistics in medical research
• understand some of the statistical principles of good practice in medical investigations
• understand how to use and interpret generalised linear models and survival analysis in medical data analysis

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Research element

Sourcing and summarizing medical research articles.
Novel secondary analysis of data.
Defining research questions and evaluating appropriate study designs.

Interdisciplinary

Students are required to study medical research articles, learn some medical terms, and translate the results of statistical analyses into summaries suitable for medical professionals and for the general public.

International

Students will be expected to review medical articles published by non-UK research groups.

Subject specific skills

• To understand the relevance of generalised linear models in analysis of medical data, and good practice in fitting and interpreting such models.
• To understand the analysis of survival data from medical studies, and good practice in fitting and interpreting such models.
• To appreciate the particular study the role of statistics in the design.

Transferable skills

• Problem solving: Use rational and logical reasoning to deduce appropriate and well-reasoned conclusions. Retain an open mind, optimistic of finding solutions, thinking laterally and creatively to look beyond the obvious. Know how to learn from failure.

• Self awareness: Reflect on learning, seeking feedback on and evaluating personal practices, strengths and opportunities for personal growth.

• Communication: Present arguments, knowledge and ideas, in a range of formats.

• Professionalism: Prepared to operate autonomously. Aware of how to be efficient and resilient. Manage priorities and time. Self-motivated, setting and achieving goals, prioritising tasks.

• Appreciation of the role of statistics in the design and analysis of studies addressing questions related to health and other aspects of society.

• Competence in using descriptive statistics, generalised linear models and survival analysis to investigate and summarise data.