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Biostatistics

Study Examples | Key Publications | Intro

Biostatisticians at Group Health Center for Health Studies (CHS) are involved in a wide variety of both methodological and collaborative research activities. These activities include:

• Statistical coordination of the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium
• Participating in the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network for colorectal cancer
• Providing statistical leadership for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Vaccine Safety Datalink project
• Providing statistical support for many other studies

The group’s primary goals are to develop, improve, and apply statistical methodology to facilitate high-quality health care research and benefit public health. Center biostatisticians specialize in areas of methodologic interest that include the following:

• Bayesian methodology (including meta-analytic models, hierarchical/multilevel modeling, and nonparametric methods)
• Diagnostic and screening test accuracy
• Latent class analysis
• Longitudinal data analysis
• Microsimulation modeling
• Methods for estimating and describing inter-rater agreement
• Survival analysis

CHS biostatistics faculty members collaborate with CHS investigators as well as researchers at the University of Washington (UW), the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC), Veterans Affairs (VA), and other HMO Research Network sites to address questions such as:

• What is the impact of screening on trends in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality?
• What factors affect the accuracy of radiologists' assessments of mammograms?
• How can we better design studies to assess influenza vaccine effectiveness in the elderly?
• Does calibration improve the quality of coronary artery calcium measurements from computed tomography (CT) images?
• Can individuals with bipolar disorder accurately recall symptoms of mania and depression?

"Being at a statistician at Group Health is especially rewarding," says CHS associate investigator Carolyn M. Rutter, PhD, "because our findings can be quickly integrated into patient care."

Study Examples | Key Publications | Intro

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