Interpreting and Reporting Descriptive Statistics, Estimates and Hypothesis Tests This 3-hour workshop begins by defining a variable and progresses step-by-step through levels of measurement, how each level is reported with descriptive statistics, and how these statistics are applied and misapplied in biomedical research. Building on these concepts, the reasoning behind confidence intervals and hypothesis testing is presented. Participants learn the strengths and weaknesses of P values, estimates, and measures of precision when reporting research results. The workshop is based on Chapters 1, 3, and 4 of my book, How to Report Statistics in Medicine: Annotated Guidelines for Authors, Editors, and Reviewers, 2nd edition (American College of Physicians, 2006). All my statistics workshops assume that participants have no background in the topic, and all focus on interpreting and reporting statistics, not on calculating them.

Interpreting and Reporting Association, Correlation, and Regression AnalysesIn this 3-hour workshop, participants will learn how to interpret and report association, correlation, and regression analyses. The majority of time will be devoted to correlation and simple linear regression analysis because the same concepts also apply to multiple linear and logistic regression analysis. Participants should be able to understand most reports of regression analyses by the end of the workshop. The workshop is based on Chapters 6 and 7 of my book, How to Report Statistics in Medicine: Annotated Guidelines for Authors, Editors, and Reviewers, 2nd edition (American College of Physicians, 2006). All my statistics workshops assume that participants have no background in the topic, and all focus on interpreting and reporting statistics, not on calculating them.

Interpreting and Reporting Epidemiological Measures•to be posted

Reporting Data and Statistics in Tables and FiguresIn this 3-hour workshop, I present the most current thinking on how to construct effective tables and graphs for reporting scientific research. The workshop is based on Chapters 20 and 21 of my book, How to Report Statistics in Medicine: Annotated Guidelines for Authors, Editors, and Reviewers, 2nd edition (American College of Physicians, 2006).

Reporting Randomized Controlled TrialsIn this 3-hour workshop, participants will learn how to report clinical research studies in scientific journals to a high degree of sophistication. The form and function of each component of the research article will be reviewed, but the workshop will emphasize how to report randomized controlled clinical trials. Participants will become familiar with the CONSORT Statement for reporting clinical trials and will learn about specific aspects of study design, research activities, and statistical analyses. The workshop is based on Chapter 13 of my book, How to Report Statistics in Medicine: Annotated Guidelines for Authors, Editors, and Reviewers, 2nd edition (American College of Physicians, 2006).

Critically Appraising the Biomedical LiteratureThis 3-hour workshop and discussions evolve around 13 questions and related concerns about the justification, design, execution, analysis, and interpretation of biomedical research studies. Topics include sources of error, confounding, and bias and how they can be controlled.

Twenty Statistical Errors Even YOU Can Find In this 90-minute workshop, participants will learn to recognize the 20 most common statistical errors found in biomedical research articles.

Writing and Publishing the Scientific Article In this 3-hour workshop, participants will learn how to prepare scientific articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals. We review the development and importance of the scientific article, examine in detail the function, content, and organization of each part of the article, and address common problems in preparing each part. In the process, we consider issues relating to authorship, evidence-based medicine, statistical reporting, the construction of tables and figures, and the appropriate use of references. We also discuss issues that arise in submitting and publishing articles, including guidelines for authors, ethical considerations, electronic submittal, and the editorial process.

Improving Comprehension: Theories and Research FindingsIn this 3-hour workshop, we consider how readers make sense of a text, examine the factors that promote or inhibit this sense-making, and discuss how theories of composition, communication, and cognitive psychology and their associated research findings can improve the quality of written communications. The workshop emphasizes the application of specific techniques for improving the data-to-day writing of technical documents and engages participants in discussions of how these theories and research findings can be applied.

Writing Abstracts and Preparing Scientific Posters In this 3-hour workshop, participants will learn how to prepare scientific articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals. We review the development and importance of the scientific article, examine in detail the function, content, and organization of each part of the article, and address common problems in preparing each part. In the process, we consider issues relating to authorship, evidence-based medicine, statistical reporting, the construction of tables and figures, and the appropriate use of references. We also discuss issues that arise in submitting and publishing articles, including guidelines for authors, ethical considerations, electronic submittal, and the editorial process.

Writing Patient Education Materials In this 3-hour workshop, participants will learn how to develop and evaluate patient education handouts. We will consider the various uses of these handouts, as well as their effectiveness in improving patient care. The qualities of effective handouts will be identified, and several techniques to enhance these qualities will be discussed. A series of tasks for producing handouts efficiently will also be presented.

Writing the Technical Report In this 3-hour workshop, participants will learn how to plan and write technical reports in the workplace. Following the acronym PAST, we discuss the purpose, audience, setting of use, and topics of a report and suggest ways of defining each of these elements in ways that promote effective communication. A general outline of a report is proposed, as well as several strategies for establishing fact, value, or policy within an organization.

More to come...