Interpreting the Medical Literature

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Interpreting the Medical Literature4th editionPreface1. Tasting an ArticleReasons to ReadThe Bones of an ArticleApproaching an Article2. Study Design: General ConsiderationsDescriptive StudiesExplanatory StudiesMore Confusing TerminologySummary3. Study Design: The Case-Control ApproachAdvantages of the Case-Control DesignProblems of Case-Control DesignsSummary4. Study Design: The Cross-Sectional and Follow-up ApproachesCross-Sectional DesignsFollow-up StudiesSummary5. Study Design: The Experimental ApproachEnrollment: Who Gets InAllocation: Sorting Subjects & ControlsFollow-UpAnalysisSummary6. Study Design: VariationsReal-World ConsiderationsPractical ConstraintsEthical ConcernsSummary7. Making MeasurementsReliability & ValidityVariability of the Unsystematic SortSystematic ErrorReducing Measurement ErrorSummary8. Analysis: Statistical SignificanceInferenceSampling VariabilityThe Null Hypothesis & Statistical SignificanceSome Problems of Statistical SignificanceBeta Errors & Statistical PowerConfidence IntervalsSummary9. Analysis: Some Statistical TestsTests for Categorical DataTests for Continuous DataCorrelationRegressionSummary10. Interpretation: Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predictive ValuePrevalenceMaking ChoicesLikelihood RatiosROC CurvesModelingSpectrumStandardsSummary11. Interpretation: RiskExpressing Statements of RiskRisk DifferencesBalancing RisksCosts & BenefitsSummary12. Interpretation: CausesConfoundingDealing with ConfoundingMaking Associations into CausesSummary13. Case Series, Editorials, and ReviewsCase SeriesEditorials & Letters to the EditorReviewsSummary14. A Final WordClarityApologies, Tentative Conclusions, Self-Criticism, & the LikeCritical AssistanceThe Final WordSummaryIndex