Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals
Course Description
This is an introductory course on concepts of statistics, emphasizing applications to health care professions. The course is designed to prepare students to understand concepts of statistics and the appropriateness of statistical methods used in published research papers and a variety of settings. Areas of emphasis include an introduction to the statistical analysis concepts of variable/reliability factors; P values; experimental design; descriptive statistics, including mean, median, and mode; sampling methods; and power analysis. Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals
Pre-Requisites
None
Co-Requisites
None
HLT-362V
Course Materials
Topic 1: What Is Statistics and Why It Is Important to Health Sciences
Description
Objectives:
- Describe an example of each type of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval,
- Define basic statistical
- Explain the historical application of
- Describe the application of statistics in health care quality, safety, health promotion, and
Study Materials
Read “Fundamentals of Statistics 1: Basic Concepts: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio,” located on the Usable Stats website.
Health Statistics
Description:
Explore the Health Statistics page of the MedlinePlus website.
Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing: Levels of Evidence
Description:
Read “Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing: Levels of Evidence,” located on the Northern Virginia Community College website.
Measuring the Quality of Healthcare in the U.S.
Description:
Read “Measuring the Quality of Healthcare in the U.S.,” by Claxton, Cox, Gonzales, Kamal, and Levitt (2015), located on the Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker website. Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals
Quality Data Critical to Healthcare Decision-Making
Description:
Read “Quality Data Critical to Healthcare Decision-Making,” by Nicholson and Penney (2004), located on the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) website.
Data and Statistics
Description:
Explore the Data and Statistics page of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
Health
Description:
Explore Health page of the United States Census Bureau website.
Health Topics: Health Statistic
Description:
Explore the Health Statistics page of the MedlinePluse website.
Tasks
Description:
Statistical application and the interpretation of data is important in health care. Review the statistical concepts covered in this topic. In a 750-1,000 word paper, discuss the significance of statistical application in health care. Include the following:
- Describe the application of statistics in health Specifically discuss its significance to quality, safety, health promotion, and leadership.
- Consider your organization or specialty area and how you utilize statistical Discuss how you obtain statistical data, how statistical knowledge is used in day-to-day operations and how you apply it or use it in decision making.
Three peer-reviewed, scholarly or professional references are required.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance. Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals
Quiz 1
Description:
This quiz tests your knowledge on the statistical concepts presented in this topic.
Topic 1 DQ 1
Description:
Discuss the historical application of statistics in the field of health care. Describe an example, other than Florence Nightingale’s contributions, where statistical application has greatly influenced or changed health care operations or practice.
Topic 1 DQ 2
Description:
Discuss why it is important for a person working in health care to understand statistical concepts. Provide an example of how statistical data is used in your organization or specialty area today and what you are expected to do with this information as a practitioner.
Topic 1 Participation
Description:
Topic 2: Population and Sampling Distributions
Description
Objectives:
- Identify examples of descriptive and inferential
- Describe strategies for selecting a sample from a
- Identify key questions you will ask/answer when reading a research
Study Materials
Applied Statistics for Health Care
Description:
Read Chapter 2 in Applied Statistics for Health Care.
Chapter 9: Sampling Distributions
Description:
Read “Chapter 9: Sampling Distributions,” and watch the associated videos by Utens et al., from Online Statistics Education: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study. Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals
The Visual Learner: Statistics
Description:
Refer to the “Visual Learner: Statistics” to learn more about the statistical calculations presented in this topic.
Patient Preference and Satisfaction in Hospital-at-Home and Usual Hospital Care for COPD Exacerbations: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial
Description:
Read “Patient Preference and Satisfaction in Hospital-at-Home and Usual Hospital Care for COPD Exacerbations: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial,” by Utens et al., from International Journal of Nursing Students(2013).
Review article in conjunction with the “Article Analysis Example 1” document to help prepare for the article analysis assignment due in this topic.
Eight Questions to Ask When Interpreting Academic Studies: A Primer for Media
Description:
Read “Eight Questions to Ask When Interpreting Academic Studies: A Primer for Media,” by Feldman and Wihbey (2015), located on the Journalist’s Resource website.
Ten Scientific Questions to Ask About Scientific Studies
Description:
Read “Ten Scientific Questions to Ask About Scientific Studies,” by Smith, from Greater Good Magazine (2015).
Research 101: Descriptive Statistics
Description:
Read “Research 101: Descriptive Statistics,” by Conner and Johnson, from American Nurse Today (2017).
Tasks
Topic 3: Clinical Inquiry and Hypothesis Testing
Description
Objectives:
- Evaluate hypothesis testing approaches and their application to health
- Define dependent and independent variables and their role in hypothesis
- Describe evidence used to “reject “or “do not reject” the null
- Evaluate the relationship between hypothesis testing and confidence
Study Materials
Description:
Read “Chapter 6: Research Design” and watch the associated videos, by Lane, from Online Statistics Education: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study.
Chapter 10: Estimation
Description:
Read “Chapter 10: Estimation” and watch the associated videos, by Lane, from Online Statistics Education: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study.
Chapter 11: Logic of Hypothesis Testing
Description:
Read “Chapter 11: Logic of Hypothesis Testing,” and watch the associated videos by Lane, from Online Statistics Education: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study.
Chapter 12: Test of Means
Description:
Read “Chapter 12: Test of Means” and watch the associated videos, by Lane, from Online Statistics Education: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study. Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals
Patient Preference and Satisfaction in Hospital-at-Home and Usual Hospital Care for COPD Exacerbations: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial
Description:
Review “Patient Preference and Satisfaction in Hospital-at-Home and Usual Hospital Care for COPD Exacerbations: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial,” by Utens et al., from International Journal of Nursing Students(2013).
Review this article in conjunction with the “Article Analysis Example 2” document to help prepare for the article analysis assignment due in this topic.
Hypothesis Testing, Type I and Type II Errors
Description:
Read “Hypothesis Testing, Type I and Type II Errors,” by Banerjee, Chitnis, Jadhay, Bhawalkar, and Chaudhury, from
Industrial Psychiatry Journal (2009).
Probability, Clinical Decision Making and Hypothesis Testing
Description:
Read “Probability, Clinical Decision Making and Hypothesis Testing,” by Banerjee, Jadhave, and Bhawalker, from
Industrial Psychiatry Journal (2009).
Understanding Null Hypothesis Testing
Description:
Read “Understanding Null Hypothesis Testing,” by Jhangiani and Chiang, from the online eBook, Research Methods in Psychology(2013), available on the BC Campus Open Ed website.
The Difference Between Quality Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, and Research
Description:
Read “The Difference Between Quality Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, and Research,” by Ginex, from ONS Voice(2017), located on the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) website.
Identifying the Differences Between Quality Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, and Original Research
Description:
Read “Identifying the Differences Between Quality Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, and Original Research,” by Baker et al., from Journal of Emergency Nursing (2014).
Probability, Proof, and Clinical Significance
Description:
Read “Probability, Proof, and Clinical Significance,” by Skelly, from Evidence-Based Spine-Care Journal (2011).
Statistical Versus Clinical Significance in Nursing Research
Description:
Read “Statistical Versus Clinical Significance in Nursing Research,” by El-Masri, from Canadian Journal of Nursing Research (2016).
Article Analysis Example 2
Description:
Review this document in conjunction with the “Patient Preference and Satisfaction in Hospital-at-Home and Usual Hospital Care for COPD Exacerbations: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial” article to help prepare for the article analysis assignment due in this topic.
Article Analysis 2
Description:
Use the “Article Analysis 2” template to complete the Article Analysis 2 assignment.
Tasks
Topic 4: Statistical Analysis
Description
Objectives:
- Differentiate among experimental research, quasi-experimental, and nonexperimental
- Identify key differences between qualitative and quantitative
- Differentiate between research and quality
Study Materials
Applied Statistics for Health Care
Description:
Read Chapter 4 in Applied Statistics for Health Care.
The Visual Learner: Statistics
Description:
Refer to the “Visual Learner: Statistics” to learn more about the statistical calculations presented in this topic.
Chapter 14: Regression
Description:
Review “Chapter 14: Regression,” and watch the associated videos by Lane, from Online Statistics Education: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study. Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals
Is This Quality Improvement or Research?
Description:
Read “Is This Quality Improvement or Research?” by Merrill, from American Nurse Today (2015).
Differentiating Between Research and Quality Improvement
Description:
Read “Differentiating Between Research and Quality Improvement,” by Gregory, from Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing (2015).
Chapter 44: Tools and Strategies for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
Description:
Read “Chapter 44: Tools and Strategies for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety,” by Hughes, from the online eBook, Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses (2008), available on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website.
Focusing on the Fundamentals: A Simplistic Differentiation Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Description:
Read “Focusing on the Fundamentals: A Simplistic Differentiation Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research,” by Rutberg and Bouikidis, from Nephrology Nursing Journal (2018).
Tasks
Description:
Identify a quality improvement opportunity in your organization or practice. In a 1,250-1,500 word paper, describe the problem or issue and propose a quality improvement initiative based on evidence-based practice. Apply “The Road to Evidence-Based Practice” process, illustrated in Chapter 4 of your textbook, to create your proposal.
Include the following:
- Provide an overview of the problem and the setting in which the problem or issue
- Explain why a quality improvement initiative is needed in this area and the expected
- Discuss how the results of previous research demonstrate support for the quality improvement initiative and its projected outcomes. Include a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources published within the last 5 years, not included in the course materials or textbook, that establish evidence in support of the quality improvement
- Discuss steps necessary to implement the quality improvement Provide evidence and rationale to support your answer.
- Explain how the quality improvement initiative will be evaluated to determine whether there was
- Support your explanation by identifying the variables, hypothesis test, and statistical test that you would need to prove that the quality improvement initiative
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance. Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals
Topic 4 DQ 1
Description:
Provide an example of experimental, quasi-experimental, and nonexperimental research from the GCU Library and explain how each research type differs from the others. When replying to peers, evaluate the effectiveness of the research design of the study for two of the examples provided.
Topic 4 DQ 2
Description:
Describe the difference between research and quality improvement. Provide a workplace example where qualitative and quantitative research is applied and how it was used within your organization. When replying to peers, discuss how these research findings might be incorporated into another health care setting.
Topic 4 Participation
Description:
NA
Topic 5: Discovering Relationships and Building Models
Description
Objectives:
- Analyze a specified data
- Describe how data influences epidemiological
- Evaluate data analyzed from research articles using different types of
Study Materials
Applied Statistics for Health Care
Description:
Read Chapter 5 in Applied Statistics for Health Care.
Excel for Windows Training
Description:
Review the “Excel for Windows Training” modules, located on the Microsoft Office website, and use them as resources for the Summary and Descriptive Data assignment, as needed.
The Visual Learner: Statistics
Description:
Refer to the “Visual Learner: Statistics” to learn more about the statistical calculations presented in this topic.
Ethics in Medical Research and Publication
Description:
Read “Ethics in Medical Research and Publication,” by Masic, Hodzic, and Mulic, from International Journal of Preventative Medicine(2014).
Chapter 2. Health Databases and Health Database Organizations: Uses, Benefits, and Concerns
Description:
Read “Chapter 2. Health Databases and Health Database Organizations: Uses, Benefits, and Concerns,” by Donaldson and Lohr, from the online eBook, Health Data in the Information Age: Use, Discloser, and Privacy (1994), available on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website.
Using Epidemiological Data to Guide Clinical Practice: Review of Studies on Cardiovascular Disease and Use of Combined Oral Contraceptives
Description:
Read “Using Epidemiological Data to Guide Clinical Practice: Review of Studies on Cardiovascular Disease and Use of Combined Oral Contraceptives,” by Hannaford and Owen-Smith, from BMJ (1998).
Secondary Data Analysis: Ethical Issues and Challenges
Description:
Tasks
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Summary and Descriptive Statistics
Description:
There is often the requirement to evaluate descriptive statistics for data within the organization or for health care information. Every year the National Cancer Institute collects and publishes data based on patient demographics. Understanding differences between the groups based upon the collected data often informs health care professionals towards research, treatment options, or patient education.
Using the data on the “National Cancer Institute Data” Excel spreadsheet, calculate the descriptive statistics indicated below for each of the Race/Ethnicity groups. Refer to your textbook and the Topic Materials, as needed, for assistance in with creating Excel formulas.
Provide the following descriptive statistics:
- Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median, and Mode
- Measures of Variation: Variance, Standard Deviation, and Range (a formula is not needed for Range).
- Once the data is calculated, provide a 150-250 word analysis of the descriptive statistics on the spreadsheet. This should include differences and health outcomes between groups.
APA style is not required, but solid academic writingis expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
Topic 5 DQ 1
Description:
Describe how epidemiological data influences changes in health practices. Provide an example and explain what data would be necessary to make a change in practice.
Topic 5 DQ 2
Description:
Discuss ways your organization uses technology to gather patient and health care information, and how this information and data are used to direct patient care and outcomes. Applied Statistics for Health Care Professionals
