Biostatistics & epidemiology : A primer for health & biomedical professionals, (3^rd Ed.)

For the new edition of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Dr. Wassertheil-Smoller has included several new chapters (genetic statistics, molecular epidemiology, scientific integrity and research ethics) and a new appendix on the basic concepts of genetics and a glossary of genetic terminology. She has also expanded the coverage of multi-center trials (an important aspect of implementation of the standards of evidence-based medicine), controversies in screening for prostate, colon, breast, and other cancers.

Preface to the Second Edition.- Preface to the First Edition.- Acknowledgements.- The Scientific Method.- A Little Bit of Probability.- Mostly About Statistics.- Mostly About Epidemiology.- Mostly About Screening.- Mostly About Clinical Trials.- Mostly About Quality of Life.- Postscript.- Appendices.- References.- Suggested Readings.- Index.

The recent controversy regarding the efficacy of mamagrams in diagnosing early stage breast cancer revealed to the public previously overlooked aspects of the difficulties of statistical accuracy needed in biomedical research. For those in the field, the public outcry served to remind them that two critical issues cannot be overlooked: study design and the correct analysis and application of the data derived. Surprisingly few academic physicians and scientific researchers truly have a solid understanding of the fundamental principles of statistics and epidemiology. This deficiency is being addressed in medical schools as more and more programs are now including introductory classes in these subjects in their core curicculum.