Biostatistics short course: Statistical Remedies for Flawed Conventions in Medical Research

Led by Peter Thall, PhD, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, this short course will identify and describe, by example, problems with a variety of statistical practices commonly used by medical statisticians and physician researchers and introduce practical alternatives.

Attendees should have some knowledge of elementary probability, statistics, Bayesian statistics, data analysis, and clinical trial design. Registration required.

Abstract: 
Many statistical methods commonly used for data analysis or clinical trial design by medical researchers are deeply flawed. Unfortunately, many dysfunctional statistical conventions and paradigms are deeply embedded in the medical research community, and have become standard or even required practice. The consequence is that practicing physicians often are misled to choose inferior or even harmful treatments for their patients. The ultimate result is that patient benefit is reduced. In this half-day short course, I will identify and describe, by example, severe problems with a variety of statistical practices commonly used by medical statisticians and physician researchers. For each flawed practice, I will provide at least one practical alternative.

Prerequisites:
The short course will include limited mathematical detail, with emphasis on practical issues. Ideally, attendees should have some knowledge of elementary probability, statistics, Bayesian statistics, data analysis, and clinical trial design.

Target Audience:
Attendees may be anyone involved in statistical analysis of medical data, or clinical design and conduct, including biostatisticians, data scientists, and medical researchers.

Book:
“Statistical Remedies for Medical Researchers,” Peter F. Thall, Springer Nature Series in Biopharmaceutical Statistics, 2020