DR. THOMAS COOK (DEPARTMENT OF BIOSTATISTICS AND MEDICAL INFORMATICS
For a graduate course on statistical methods for clinical trials, Dr. Cook helps students deepen their understanding of key course concepts by writing brief summaries of published research articles. In their summaries, students analyze and describe key statistical elements within the article.
1. Read the article
MERIT-HF Study Group (1999). Effect of metoprolol CR/XL in chronic heart failure: Metoprolol CR/XL Randomised
Intervention Trial in Congestive Heart Failure The Lancet 353, 2001–2007.
Write a brief summary (1–2 pages) of this article describing:
• Background (the problem, and why it is important)
• Study design
– Population
– Interventions
– Treatment Assignment
– Sample size
– Outcome measures
– Interim Monitoring (i.e., early stopping for benefit/harm)
– Analysis
• Efficacy Results
– Primary Outcome
– Secondary Outcomes
– Subgroups