International Centre for Health and Society 2002 Seminar
Series
12 June, 5pm
Thomas B. Newman, MD, MPH
Visiting Professor, Centre for Evidence-based Child Health, Institute
of Child Health Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and
Pediatrics University of California, San Francisco
'The Power of Stories over Statistics: Illustrations from
Neonatal Jaundice and Infant Airplane Safety'
All welcome. RSVP attendance essential
Abstract
If our goal in making health policy is to optimize health outcomes at a
reasonable cost, our approach will necessarily be probabilistic and
statistical -- using available data to estimate numbers of people
benefiting various amounts from various courses of action. On the
other hand, another source of input to policy makers is stories --
narratives of what happened to particular people, often told by the
people themselves or their representatives. In this talk I'll contrast
stories and statistics in two areas: guidelines for treatment of jaundice
in newborns and proposed regulations requiring that infants less than 2
years old be restrained in safety seats during airplane travel. I'll
conclude with a discussion (with attendees) of the power of stories
and possible ways it might be more effectively channelled or diffused.
End
Patricia Crowley
Centre Administrator
International Centre for Health and Society
Dept of Epidemiology & Public Health, UCL
1 - 19 Torrington Place
London WC1E 6BT
Tel: (International code +44 20) or (Domestic code 020) 76791708
Fax: (International code +44 20) or (Domestic code 020) 7813 0280
Email: [log in to unmask]
Nearest underground stations (Goodge St or Warren St).
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