Statistics in Healthcare
Over time, statistics have been an integral tool in the healthcare sector. One of the contributions that the statistics have played in the healthcare sector is research. Healthcare research cannot be a success if statistics do not come into play. Through research, statistics has made it possible for healthcare professionals to improve quality, carry out clinical trials, and calculate morbidity and mortality rates. Statistics equally makes it possible for healthcare professionals to do laboratory analysis (Kim & Mallory, 2014). It is essential to note that the utilization of statistics started in the 19th Century.
Apart from the contribution of Florence Nightingale, statistics have been used by various researchers to ensure that there is significant progress in the healthcare field. In the year 1918, for example, the US government managed to come up with a figure on the number of people who were killed in the influenza pandemic (Worobey, Han & Rambaut, 2014). The population was estimated to be fifty million. The contribution of Louis Pasteur is still felt today. The biologist applied statistics in his study of the microbes and helped in the creation of penicillin.
Statistics continue to transform the healthcare sector at the current time. One of the contributions that we see currently is in coming up with evidence-based interventions (Scott & Mazhindu, 2014). Researchers cannot come to conclusions based on the results of the research without involving statistics. Today, all the peer-reviewed journals have a data collection and analysis sections. The two sections are critical elements of statistics. I believe that statistics will still contribute significantly to the progress being witnessed in the healthcare sector.
References
Kim, M., & Mallory, C. (2014). Statistics for evidence-based practice in nursing. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Scott, I., & Mazhindu, D. (2014). Statistics for healthcare professionals: An introduction. Sage.
Worobey, M., Han, G. Z., & Rambaut, A. (2014). Genesis and pathogenesis of the 1918 pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(22), 8107-8112.