This book is for everyone in health care who requires a nonmathematical answer to the question “What is a p-value”. Statistical Reasoning in Medicine: The Intuitive P-value Primer focuses on both the underlying principles of statistical thought in medicine and the ethical interpretation of p-values in health care research.
A physician confronted with a new finding in her field, a director of a pharmaceutical company analyzing a series of experiments, an expert sitting on an advisory panel for the government, or a judge assessing the scientific aspect of a lawsuit must have an understanding of p-values and the underlying statistical thinking that guides their interpretation. If you are a decision maker without in-depth training in statistics, but now find that you must grapple with the thorny theory of statistical reasoning and the slippery issue of p values, then this book is for you.
With an emphasis on patient and community protection, The P-value Primer develops and emphasizes the p-value concept while deemphasizing the mathematics. It also provides examples of the p-value’s correct implementation and interpretation in a manner consistent with the preeminent principle of clinical research programs: “First, do no harm”.
