SDST3607 Statistics in Clinical Medicine and Bio-medical Research (6 credits) Academic Year 2026
Offering Department SCDS (Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science) Quota ---
Course Co-ordinator TBC, SCDS (Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science) < ugenq@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved
Course Objectives In clinical research, medical data are often observed which motivates the application of statistical methodology to the clinical observational and decision-making process.  Also, statistical problems often arise from clinical trial designs.  It involves phase I, II, III and IV clinical trial designs, both Bayesian and frequentist approaches, sample size and power calculation.  No knowledge in biology or medicine is assumed; the course provides the necessary biomedical background when the statistical problems are introduced.
Course Contents & Topics The contents of the course include contingency tables, regression models, survival analysis, categorical data analysis, Bayesian designs, dose-finding methods, sample size and power calculation, phase I, II and III trial designs, hypothesis testing, adaptive designs.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 understand the basic concepts in medical statistics
CLO 2 design clinical trials and compute sample sizes
CLO 3 conduct statistical inference and apply regression models
CLO 4 solve medical problems by using various statistical tests
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in SDST2602 or SDST3902
Only for students admitted in 2025 and thereafter.
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2U000C00 Course not offered under any Major/Minor/Professional core
2026 Professional Core in Statistics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2026 Major in Statistics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2026 Minor in Statistics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Professional Core in Statistics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Major in Statistics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Minor in Statistics ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2026 Professional Core in Statistics < PLO 1,2,4,5,6 >
2026 Major in Statistics < PLO 1,2,4,5,6 >
2025 Professional Core in Statistics < PLO 1,2,4,5,6 >
2025 Major in Statistics < PLO 1,2,4,5,6 >
Offer in 2026 - 2027 N        Examination
Offer in 2027 - 2028 N
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36.0
Tutorials 12.0
Reading / Self study 100.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments Coursework (assignments, tutorials, and a class test) 25.0 1,2,3,4
Examination One 2-hour written examination 75.0 1,2,3,4
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 J. Aitchison, J. W. Kay & I. J. Lauder: Statistical Concepts and Applications in Clinical Medicine (Chapman & Hall/CRC, 2004)
J. Aitchison & J. Dunsmore: Statistical Prediction Analysis (Cambridge University Press, 1976)
P. Armitage: Statistical Methods in Medical Research (Oxford: Blackwell, 1971)
P. Armitage: Sequential Medical Trials (Oxford: Blackwell, 1975, 2nd edition)
D. Altman: Practical Statistics for Medical Research (London: Chapman & Hall, 1991)
N. E. Breslow & N. E. Day: Statistical Methods in Cancer Research Volume 1 - The analysis of case-control studies (Lyon: IARC, 1980)
D. R. Cox & E. J. Snell: The Analysis of Binary Data (London: Chapman and Hall, 1989, 2nd edition)
D. R. Cox & D. V. Hinkley: Theoretical Statistics (London: Chapman and Hall, 1974)
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk
Additional Course Information Other references:
E. K. Harris & A. Albert: Survivorship Analysis for Clinical Studies (New York: Marcel Dekker, 1991)
B. Jones & M. G. Kenward: Design and Analysis of Cross-Over Trials (London: Chapman and Hall, 1990)
B. J. T. Morgan: Analysis of Quantal Response Data (London: Chapman and Hall, 1992)
S. J. Pocock: Clinical Trials.  A Practical Approach (Chickestes: John Wiley & Sons, 1991)
P. McCullagh & J. A. Nelder: Generalised Linear Models (London: Chapman and Hall, 1989, 2nd edition)