Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Biostatistics 1

• code 12184
• course 1
• term Semester 2
• type OB
• credits 3

Main language of instruction: Catalan

Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish

Head instructor

Dr. Adrián GONZÁLEZ - agonzalezm@uic.es

Office hours

Adrián González

agonzalezm@uic.es

In Health Sciences, researchers study phenomena affected by variability. Clinical observation and the search for responses create the necessity to measure, order and systematize data to subsequently apply laws and extrapolate the obtained results to the study population, thus drawing conclusions for better clinical practice. Biostatistics is the science, that with scientific rigor, gives us the quantitative tools to reach this goal. Besides, it is necessary to perform analyses and critical readings of scientific literature and to promote clinical practices based on scientific evidence.

No prerequisites are required to take the subject.

• To know the most frequent basic statistical concepts and methods in Health Sciences and their applications.
• To qualify the student to carry out the basic biostatistical analyses with statistical software.
• To qualify the student to critically appraise scientific articles.

• CE1 - To know how to apply scientific methods, experimental design and biostatistics to answer a question or corroborate a hypothesis in a clinical setting.
• CE6 - To know how to describe and apply the most common techniques for exploring and analysing data, the relationship between variables or categories and/or corroborating hypotheses in both quantitative and qualitative research.
• CE9 - To know how to apply specific theoretical and practical knowledge to health science research.
• CG2 - The ability to critically analyse and discuss research results and transmit the relevant outcomes.
• CB10 - To have the learning competences that allow them to continue to study in a way that will have to be mainly independent.
• CB6 - To have and understand knowledge that provide a basis or opportunity to be original in terms of the applkication of ideas, often within a research context.
• CB7 - To know how to apply the knowledge acquired and resolve problems in unknown or little known environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study.
• CB8 - To able to incorporate their knowledge and cope with the complexity of formulating judgements based on information that, since it is incomplete or limited, includes reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgements.
• CB9 - To be able to communicate their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments supporting these conclusions to specialised and non-specialised audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
• CE10 - The ability to critically analyse and discuss research results and transmit the relevant outcomes
• CE2 - To know how to design a research project within a specific context in a clinical setting
• CE3 - To know how to describe both the quantitative and qualitative methodological designs used in health research in the healthcare environment.
• CE4 - To know how to use critical assessment tools for qualitative and quantitative research articles
• CE5 - To know how to apply the language of scientific writing when communicating health outcomes
• CE7 - To know how to identify health problems on which research may be undertaken and to apply specific techniques to analyse and assess such problems,
• CG1 - The ability to incorporate new knowledge acquired through research and study and cope with complexity.
• CG3 - The ability to draw up research questions and put them into operation as research projects and formulate evidence-based research hypotheses.
• CG4 - The ability to articulate and defend one's own scientific ideas in an ethical way with regard to the research process
• CT1 - The ability to integrate within an established, multidisciplinary and multicultural work team.

Students will be able to determine the statistical methods needed to answer scientific questions arising when conducting a research study. They will learn to formulate statistical hypotheses from a scientific question and answer them from a statistical standpoint. The students will develop skills to critically appraise the statistical methodology and the results of a scientific article Finally, the student will be familiar with the use of a statistical software allowing them to carry out the analysis of data generated in their research.

Unit 1. Introduction to biostatistics

• Types of variables
• Sample and population

Unit 2. Descriptive statistics

Unidimensional descriptive statistics

• Frequency tables

• Measures of central tendency
• Measures of dispersion
• Measures of position
• Measures of shape

Graphical representation of data

Bidimensional descriptive statistics

• Contingency tables
• Correlation and introduction to regression

Block 3. Statistical inference

• Point estimate and confidence intervals
• Hypothesis testing

• Inference for one variable
• Inference for two variables

The methodology used in this subject will consist of theoretical presentations (30%) and case methods and computer practice (70%).

Mixed evaluation with two components:

1. Continuous assessment (25%), based on the delivery of short exercises and tests throughout the course.

2. Final exam (75%), based on a case to be resolved with a statistical package.

Campbell MJ, Machin D, Walters S. Medical Statistics: A Textbook for the Health Sciences, 4th Edition. John Wiley & Sons; 2007.

Katz MH. Study design and statistical analysis. A practical guide to clinicians. Cambridge University Press; 2006.

Martínez-González MA, Sánchez-Villegas A, Faulín Fajardo FJ. Bioestadística amigable (2ª ED). Díaz de Santos. Madrid; 2006.

Navarro Giné A, Martín Mateo M. Uso profesional del SPSS.  Universidad  Autónoma de Barcelona; 2002.

Peacok J, Kerry S. Presenting medical statistics from proposal to publication. Oxford University Press; 2007.

Peat J, Barton B, Elliott E.Statistics workbook for evidence-based health care. August. Wiley-Blackwell BMJ Books; 2008.

Peña D. Fundamentos en Estadística. 1 ed. Alianza Editorial, S.A.: Madrid; 2001.

Prieto Valiente L, Herranz Tejedor I. ¿Qué significa estadísticamente significativo? 1 ed. Ediciones Díaz de Santos, S.A.: Madrid; 2005.

Piédrola Gil, et al. Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública. 10ª Edición. Barcelona: Masson S.A.; 2001.