STAT-735: Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials (3 credits)

South Dakota State University
(Fall 2007 Internet)


Course Meeting Time and Location: Sept. 5, 2007 - Dec. 21, 2007, Internet (WebCT delivered).

Contact Information:
Instructor: Dr. Weiming Ke
Office location: Harding Hall, Room 122
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 10:00AM-12:00Noon or by appointment (made through e-mail or phone)
Office phone number: (605) 688-6877
Email address: weiming.ke@sdstate.edu
More information about the instructor of this course can be found on http://teach.sdstate.edu/users/kew/

Communication Preference: WebCT email.

Course Description: Introduction to design, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials. The course focuses mostly on the comparative, also called Phase III, Randomized Clinical Trials (RCT). The course is offered for students from any field that needs design and analysis of clinical experiments.

Course Prerequisites: STAT-441/541 or STAT-482/582, or permission of the instructor.

Course Content:
·         Basic concepts of clinical trials
·         Study design
·         Randomization and blindness
·         Sample size determination
·         Data collection process
·         Statistical analysis
·         Survival analysis

Description of Instructional Methods:
Check the schedule (on the course content page). You should read the online materials, the chapters in the textbook, and do the homework before the due dates. Submit your homework as an attachment to an internal WebCT e-mail. If you have any questions, compose a discussion message. If you can answer someone's questions, please do so, it will help you to learn. I will answer all the existing questions every Thursday afternoon starting at 3:00PM. If you do not want others to see your questions, use the internal WebCT e-mail. I will check discussion questions and WebCT e-mail every weekday afternoon starting at 3:00PM.                                      

Course Requirements:
1.
Required textbook: Fundamentals of Clinical Trials, 3rd edition, by Friedman, Furberg, and DeMets, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1998. ISBN 0-387-98586-7. The textbook may be purchased through the SDSU bookstore (http://www.sdstatebookstore.com).
2. Required technology:  Access to a computer with internet is needed for this course.
3. Technology support: For assistance with technology problems or access to WebCT, contact the Help Desk at 605-688-6776. WebCT Course User Guidelines and WebCT 101: Learning with WebCT are very helpful.
4. Class attendance policy: Login at least two times a week to read the online materials and examples or to submit your homework.
5. Academic honesty policy: The instructor abides by the policies endorsed by the SDSU administration. See SDSU Conduct Code 01:10:25 at http://studentaffairs.sdstate.edu/JudicialAffairs/StudentCode/Chapter10.pdf
6. Make-up policy: Each assignment and test should be submitted before due dates. If there is an emergency please contact the instructor to make the necessary arrangements for adjusting the due dates.

Course Goals:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate an ability to design and conduct a clinical trial as well as to use basic statistical methods to analyze the data from a clinical trial and interpret results.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Outcomes

Teach/Learning activities

Assessments

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
 
(1) Demonstrate their ability to describe, choose and apply appropriate study designs for conducting clinical trials.
(2) Demonstrate their ability to conduct randomization and blinding for clinical trials.
(3) Demonstrate their ability to calculate sample size for different clinical trials involving dichotomous, continuous, or survival data.
(4) Demonstrate their ability to apply appropriate statistical methods to analyze the data from clinical trials including dichotomous, continuous, or survival data.

Read online materials and the corresponding chapters on the textbook. Ask questions and discuss questions actively. Search and read relevant articles. Finish assigned homework and exams.

Homework and exams

How to Submit Homework and Tests: Homework and tests should be submitted as an attachment to an internal WebCT email.

Evaluation Procedures:
 
Assessments: All the homework, midterm exam, and one final exam will be evaluated and contributed to the final grade.

Grading Policy:

  • Homework   → 30 PTS
  • Mid Term     → 30 PTS
  • Final Exam   → 40 PTS
  • Total Grade  → 100 PTS

Grading Scale: 90-100 → A, 80-89 → B, 70-79 → C,  60-69 → D,  0-59 → F

Disability Policy:
Any student needing accommodations based on the impact of a disability should contact Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Coordinator of Disability Services, to develop an accommodation plan. She can be reached by phone at 605-688-4504 or by e-mail at Nancy.Crooks@sdstate.edu, or at the office in West Hall Room 110. Please discuss your needs with the instructor as well.

Tentative Course Schedule: see Course schedule on Course Content Page.

Tentative Exam Due Dates:

Mid Term: Oct. 26, 2007
Final Exam: Dec. 21, 2007