Biostatistics.
OBJECTIVE
After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Recognize the various terms used in biostatistics. 2. Describe the choices that are required in designing a particular research study. 3. Understand the different types of data that may be obtained in any given study. 4. Identify which statistical tools are appropriate for evaluating the different types of data.


CONCLUSIONS
Journals of medicine and surgery, such as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, are filled with statistics that readers may never have learned about or once understood but soon forgot. Unfortunately, critical review of any abstract requires a thorough understanding of the tools used to evaluate study results. It also requires an evaluation of whether the tools chosen were adequate or even proper, given the study design and the questions asked. This article was conceived to highlight the major topics in biostatistics. It includes a review of common definitions, an outline of the major tests used (correctly or not) in plastic surgery abstracts, and instruction as to their proper use in scientific studies.
Taub
Peter J
PJ
New York, N.Y. From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Westheimer
Emily
E
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001699:Biometry; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012107:Research Design; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric