Clinical Biostatistics
2025-05-30
Preface
“Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability.”
William Osler (1849-1919).
Biostatistics is a fundamental discipline at the core of modern health research (Lee et al, 2019). As the science of managing medical uncertainty, biostatistical methods play a key role in the scientific assessment of all areas of medical practice: from aetilogy to diagnosis and from treatment to prognosis.
This script is based on a series of lectures in Clinical Biostatistics that I gave at the University of Zurich for Master Students in Biostatistics and PhD students in Clinical Science and related subjects. This mix of students with different backgrounds required a non-technical style of writing, with emphasis on implementation (in R) and interpretation of statistical methods used in medical research, covering both design and analysis. Technical details are described in several appendices.
The script is a living document and we intend to update and extend the contents on a regular basis. Please report any errors or comments you might have to [email protected].
Leonhard Held
2025-05-30