Securing wide appreciation of health statistics

• Published in: Bulletin of the World Health Organization Vol. 11; no. 1-2; pp. 103 - 130
• Main Authors: PYRRAIT A M DO, A, AUBENQUE, M J, BENJAMIN, B, DE GROOT, M J, KOHN, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 1954
• Subjects: Humans; Old Medline; Vital Statistics; VITAL STATISTICS
• ISSN: 0042-9686

All the authors are agreed on the need for a certain publicizing of health statistics, but do Amaral Pyrrait points out that the medical profession prefers to convince itself rather than to be convinced. While there is great utility in articles and reviews in the professional press (especially for paramedical personnel) Aubenque, de Groot, and Kohn show how appreciation can effectively be secured by making statistics more easily understandable to the non-expert by, for instance, including readable commentaries in official publications, simplifying charts and tables, and preparing simple manuals on statistical methods. Aubenque and Kohn also stress the importance of linking health statistics to other economic and social information. Benjamin suggests that the principles of market research could to advantage be applied to health statistics to determine the precise needs of the "consumers". At the same time, Aubenque points out that the value of the ultimate results must be clear to those who provide the data; for this, Kohn suggests that the enumerators must know exactly what is wanted and why.There is general agreement that some explanation of statistical methods and their uses should be given in the curricula of medical schools and that lectures and postgraduate courses should be arranged for practising physicians.