Stoma Edu J. 2024;11(1-2):
pISSN 2360-2406; eISSN 2502-0285
www.stomaeduj.com
85-90
Books Review
Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine
and Allied Health Sciences
Editors: Damian J. J. Farnell, Renata Medeiros Mirra
Publisher: Springer Nature, Switzerland
Language: English
ISBN: 978-3-031-26009-4
Edition: 1/e
Publish Year: 2023
Pages: 219, Illustrated
Price: €128.39
Cristina Teodora Preoteasa
DMD, PhD, Assistant Professor
Faculty of Dentistry
Department of Scientic Research Methodology
and Ergonomics
Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila"
University of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Bucharest, Romania
e-mail: cristina.preoteasa@umfcd.ro
Biostatistics is crucial for the medical professionals, being important for understanding
information presented in the scientic literature, and for implementing the concept of
evidence-based medicine. Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences is a book
which focuses on teaching biostatistics in medicine and allied health sciences, highlighting its
trends and challenges, and giving suggestions on how to improve the methods used in order
to obtain good learning outcomes e.g., an adequate level of understanding of the basics of
statistical concepts; acquiring knowledge needed for the correct understanding of research results;
raising interest on the topic and giving condence to students that they can understand and use
biostatistics.
As the authors highlight, teaching biostatistics in medicine and dentistry in higher education
shows great variability. Discussion on what and how biostatistics courses should be taught is
under way . therefore, book presents the perspective of both teaching sta and students, which
is a highly recommended approach as the two parts are frequently dierent in many regards.
In this book, teaching of some aspects frequently discussed during the courses of biostatistics,
needed for understanding research results, is assessed e.g., on the topics of null hypothesis,
p-values and condence intervals. The authors highlight that such topics are frequently
perceived by students as being important to be known, but also rather hard to understand.
Therefore, these courses should take into account the students’ level of understanding.
Simplifying the information presented, especially in beginner courses, may be recommended in
order to promote conceptual understanding of biostatistics and provide a foundation on which
students can develop by individual learning.
As the authors highlight, one important challenge that comes with teaching statistics is
related to delivering it to people who frequently do not have advanced training in mathematics,
by teaching sta that rather often do have training in this regard. A misconception that is
frequently encountered among students is that understanding biostatistics cannot be done without
advanced medical training, and it should be resolved after the statistical course taught. Important
suggestions on how teaching sta can overcome this obstacle are given in this book. Opinion
on the level of mathematical training that should be used is also given, and the importance of
focusing on statistical thinking more than on formula and calculation is highlighted.
In conclusion, Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences provides a
comprehensive perspective on teaching biostatistics to medical and dental students, and
provides knowledge useful for the teaching sta in order to obtain adequate learning outcomes.
The Books Review is drafted in the reviewer’s sole wording and illustrates his opinions
https://doi.org/10.25241/stomaeduj.2024.11(1-2).bookreview.4
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