The science and art of biostatistics: a comprehensive overview

Abstract

Biostatistics is the area that involves the application of statistical methods to biological and health-related research and draw out valid conclusion from the obtained data. Statistics are essential to clinical trials and the drug development process, from trial design to protocol preparation. Providing a basic awareness of statistical concerns can help maintain the credibility of a clinical trial. Biostatistics is used at every stage of clinical research, including trial design, protocol development, data tracking and management, data processing, and trial reporting. This article deals with bringing in frame the basic biostatistical concepts that are significant and convenient in analyzing various types of data observations that includes the types of data, measure of central tendency, measure of dispersion, parametric and non-parametric test. Other parameters, such as the normal distribution, sample size computation, significance level, null and alternate hypothesis, and statistical significance test, are thoroughly discussed with appropriate illustrations. The review also mentions the software applications and websites helpful for statistical computations.