Course Details and Preparation

Dates and Location

• Fridays from 12:00pm-2:00pm, September 16, 2011-June 22, 2012
• Location: Countway Library, Room 403

Course Details

The curriculum will consist of the following seven units:

• Unit 1-Introduction to biostatistics (8 weeks)
  • Lecture topics: What is biostatistics?, Types of data/data displays, Probability/Central limit theorem/confidence intervals, Simulation, Hypothesis testing, ANOVA, Nonparametrics, Analysis of proportions, Linear regression
• Unit 2: Study design and statistical communication (4 weeks)
  • Lecture topics: Study design, Power and sample size, Grant writing, Statistical communication
• Unit 3: Regression techniques (8 weeks)
  • Lecture topics: Linear regression with dichotomous/categorical predictors, Regression diagnostics, Multiple linear regression, Partial F tests, Interpretation of interaction terms, Stepwise selection/ Alternative model selection approaches, Logistic regression, Model diagnostics for logistic regression
• Unit 4: Advanced study design (4 weeks)
  • Lecture topics: Types of clinical studies, Experimental design, Cross-over designs, Factorial designs
• Unit 5: Correlated outcomes (8 weeks)
  • Lecture topics: Paired outcomes, Multiple correlated outcomes, Repeated measures analysis, Model comparison, Random intercepts and slopes, Multilevel models, Handling missing data, Types of missing data, Power and sample size calculations for longitudinal models
• Unit 6: Time to event outcomes (4 weeks)
  • Lecture topics: Survival analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression, Model diagnostics for Cox models, Power analysis/study design with survival outcomes
• Unit 7: Advanced techniques (4 weeks)
  • Lecture topics: Multiple comparisons, Meta-analysis, Factor analysis, Path diagrams/path analysis

Each week, participants will attend a two-hour lecture in person or watch the on-line stream of the lecture. In addition, participants will be responsible for completing a practicum related to the topic for the week. The practicum will demonstrate how to apply the technique in a standard statistical package (STATA) and provide practice problems so that the concept is reinforced. Participants will submit completed homework assignments at the end of each unit.

Course Completion

Those who attend or view the on-line stream of all lectures and complete at least 80% of the assigned practicums will receive a certificate of participation and CME credit (if applicable).