Unit name | Clinical Trials & Statistics |
---|---|
Unit code | SOCSM0002 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Professor. Chris Rogers |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Bristol Medical School |
Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
This unit will provide an overview of the different types of research design, with particular emphasis on clinical trials. It aims to provide students with a good understanding of the underlying principles of clinical trial design and knowledge of the appropriate use of statistics. Examples will be taken from cardiovascular studies where possible, nonetheless the principles and techniques to be discussed apply equally to other areas of science and medicine. Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of how to conduct clinical trials successfully (e.g. appropriate data collection and case report form design for clinical studies, study size and power calculations, randomisation methods) and how to avoid common pitfalls (e.g. bias and confounding and how to minimize them). Essential concepts underlying statistical methods will be introduced (e.g. data distributions, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, t-tests, non-parametric methods, chi-squared tests, odds ratios, relative risks etc). Students will gain sufficient knowledge to be able to identify which statistical analysis method should be employed. Mathematical formulae however, will be kept to a minimum. Importantly, the ‘general’ ethical principles of clinical research (including some historical and legal perspective on ethics) and the UK research governance framework and the EU directive governing the conduct of clinical trials will be covered.
Students successfully completing this module will be able to:
Please note that students will be given formative feedback on all coursework assessment.
1 short answer paper contributing 20% to the unit.
1 sets of MCQs contributing 20% to the unit.