Biostatistics is an essential branch of statistics that applies statistical methods to biology, medicine, public health, and pharmacy. It helps researchers collect, organize, analyze, and interpret numerical data related to health and disease. For Pharm.D students, understanding biostatistics is crucial because it forms the foundation of evidence-based practice, clinical research, drug evaluation, and healthcare decision-making.
What is Statistics?
Statistics is the science that deals with the collection, classification, tabulation, presentation, and interpretation of numerical data. It helps transform raw numbers into meaningful information.
Example:
- Statistic: Blood pressure of one patient
- Statistics: Blood pressure readings of 200 patients
Definition of Biostatistics
Biostatistics is the application of statistical methods to biological and health-related data. It includes the analysis of patient records, hospital data, epidemiological surveys, clinical trials, and public health information.
Francis Galton (1822–1911) is considered the father of biostatistics.
Types of Health-Related Statistics
- Medical Statistics: Application of statistics to disease patterns, vaccine efficacy, and treatment outcomes.
- Health Statistics: Covers public health data such as disease outbreaks, health services, and population health indicators.
- Vital Statistics: Government-collected data on births, deaths, marriages, and divorces.
Importance of Biostatistics
- Helps researchers design clinical trials and field surveys.
- Aids in analyzing and interpreting medical research findings.
- Supports publication of scientific reports and presentations.
- Assists in setting health standards, predicting trends, and planning health programs.
- Essential for evidence-based practice in medicine and pharmacy.
Applications of Biostatistics
1. In Physiology and Anatomy
- Used to define normal ranges of physiological variables such as pulse rate and blood pressure.
- Helps compare differences between groups (e.g., mean height of boys in different regions).
- Used to study correlations (e.g., relationship between height and weight).
2. In Pharmacology
- Used to study drug responses.
- Helps compare the efficacy of two or more drugs.
3. In Medicine
- Essential for evaluating different treatment approaches.
- Helps determine whether a therapy is effective or not.
4. In Community Medicine & Public Health
- Determines the usefulness of vaccines through attack rate comparisons.
- Evaluates the role of risk factors in disease occurrence.
Applications as Numerical Indicators
- Identifying leading causes of death
- Determining disease prevalence and incidence
- Tracking rise and fall of epidemics
- Describing age and sex composition of populations
- Assessing overall health standards
Sources of Health Data
Reliable biostatistical analysis depends on accurate and well-organized data. The main sources include:
1. Experiments
- Conducted in physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and clinical laboratories.
- Provide precise measurements for dissertations, publications, and research.
2. Surveys
- Field surveys collect data to understand the magnitude of health problems.
- Used for planning control measures and evaluating public health programs.
3. Records
- Vital records on births, deaths, marriages, and vaccinations.
- Hospital data including admissions, discharges, and disease registers.
Other Sources of Health Information
- Census: National population data used for planning health services.
- Birth & Death Registration Act (1969): Mandatory reporting of vital events.
- Sample Registration System (SRS): Monitors fertility and mortality rates.
- Notification of Diseases: Reporting of notifiable diseases for surveillance.
- Hospital Records & Disease Registers: Provide continuous clinical data.
- Record Linkage: Combines data from multiple sources for comprehensive analysis.
- Epidemiological Surveillance: Tracks outbreaks and health trends.
- Environmental Health Data: Monitors pollution, sanitation, and risk exposures.
- Health Manpower Statistics: Provides workforce distribution and availability.
- Population Surveys: Large-scale health and demographic surveys.
Detailed Notes:
For PDF style full-color notes, open the complete study material below:
PATH: PHARMD/ PHARMD NOTES/ PHARMD FOURTH YEAR NOTES/ BIOSTATISTICS AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY/ INTRODUCTION TO BIOSTATISTICS.