Program Overview

Program Overview

The Statistics Methods Seminar (SSM4) is a course offered as part of the university program, specifically designed to support students in the planning and evaluation of studies within the framework of their diploma thesis. The seminar provides an opportunity for students to present their project in a brief presentation, formulate questions related to study design and statistical data analysis, and discuss these aspects with the instructor and peers.

Course Objectives and Structure

The course builds upon the content of the compulsory course SSM2 (Block 17) and covers topics such as study design, creation of questionnaires and data collection forms, and analysis strategies, depending on the project's progress. Statistical software application support is also provided when needed. The seminar is recommended to be taken either during the planning phase (e.g., before submitting the study to the ethics commission) or during the evaluation of the diploma thesis.

Requirements and Preparation

A prerequisite for participating in the seminar is that statistical analyses are applied in the diploma thesis. For the first seminar unit, a PowerPoint presentation (approximately 10 minutes) is to be prepared, presenting the diploma thesis project, including statistical aspects such as the main research question, study design, primary and secondary outcome criteria, data collection methods, and planned statistical procedures. The focus of the presentation should be on the planned statistical methods, explaining step by step which research question is to be answered using which characteristics (variables) and which statistical methods.

Further Requirements and Expectations

Throughout the seminar, a written summary (at least 2-3 DIN A4 pages) of the discussed analysis strategy or study planning is to be created. Before the start of the seminar, participants will receive an email from the course instructor with additional information.

Program Details

• Duration and Frequency: The Statistics Methods Seminar is offered in both the winter and summer semesters.
• Registration: Registration for the seminar is exclusively through MedCampus, using the student's account credentials.
• Previous Knowledge: The seminar assumes knowledge from previous statistical courses. It is recommended that participants refresh their knowledge before attending, especially from VO SSM2, UE SSM2, and the script from Block 17, as these contents will not be repeated.

Resources and References

Additional resources and references for further learning and support are provided, including but not limited to:

• General introductions to medical statistics
• Courses on biostatistics
• Guidelines for reporting and systematic reviews
• Checklists for study protocols and diagnostic validation studies
• Series on statistical methods in medical research and evaluation of scientific publications

Responsible Persons

The content is overseen by Dr. Franz König and Dr. Sonja Zehetmayer.

Studies, Training, and Further Education

The seminar is part of the broader offerings in studies, training, and further education, which include:

• The Medicine Degree Programme
• The Medical Informatics Master's Programme
• The Molecular Precision Medicine Master's Programme
• PhD Programme "Medical Informatics, Biostatistics & Complex Systems"
• Project "Digital Skills, Knowledge & Communication"