Scope of statistical methods in medicine -- Role of statistics in clinical medicine -- Role of statistics in preventive medicine -- Observations in medicine -- Frequency distribution -- Measures of central tendency and location -- Measures of dispersion -- Probability -- Probability distributions -- Sampling -- Basis of statistical inference -- Tests of significance and estimation -- Linear regression and correlation -- The chi-square test -- Analysis of variance -- Non-parametric or distribution-free statistical tests -- Further statistical methods -- Vital statistics -- Health statistics -- Standardised death rates and life tables -- Demography -- Introduction to research methods -- Experimental studies -- Observational studies -- Data processing -- Presentation of data.

The fourth edition of this well-accepted textbook introduces the basic principles and concepts of biostatistics in simple, straightforward terms with minimal use of statistical jargon. With the help of real-life examples, it explains the various statistical techniques that are applied to medical and health-related sciences. Using an accessible style, the book gives excellent coverage of research methodology and helps in determining the best study designs and sample sizes as well as appropriate statistical tests of significance, including non-parametric tests. In its new look, the text carries the necessary revisions of several chapters, including the fully revised chapters on research methods and data processing. The latest information on health statistics and demography of India is included. A new section on the recently introduced measure for the determination of the number needed to treat (NNT) in a clinical trial is provided. Intended for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students as well as for nursing and paramedical students, the book will also be immensely useful to medical/health faculty and researchers in the field of biostatistics.