Understanding and Evaluating Critical Information in Changing Times

Americans are bombarded with statistical data each and every day. Professionals across all fields utilize research data to make decisions in the course of their work, and healthcare professionals are far from the exception. Every segment of healthcare relies on research data provided by insurance companies, consulting firms, and independent research firms, as well as the federal government to help make a host of decisions regarding level of care and course of treatment, as well as administration and finance. While these professionals receive and make use of data, do they really make the best use of it? Statistical Analysis for Decision Makers in Health Care explains in plain English the fundamental concepts regarding statistics, as well as common uses and misuses. Without jargon or mathematical formulas, it presents a clear verbal and visual explanation of what statistics really do. The book provides a practical discussion of scientific methods and data to show why statistics cannot compensate for bad science or bad data. It stresses a conceptual understanding, so readers will be able to make intelligent evaluations of the many statistic-based studies that cross their desk in the normal course of business. Designed for the busy healthcare professional who needs to collect, analyze and/or evaluate data in the performance of his or her job, this book introduces the theory and practice of quantitative analysis in a manner designed to provide a sound understanding of the basic principles of scientific inquiry.