Design Trials and Statistics (DTS)
DTS is one of four academic groups within the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield. The other groups are Health Economics and Decision Science, Public Health and Health Services Research. Sitting within the Faculty of Medicine, ScHARR is akin to Schools of Public Health seen in continental Europe and North America.
The Design, Trials and Statistics (DTS) section, in ScHARR, brings together a range of disciplines with the ultimate goal of carrying out high quality research to benefit patient care, through the improved methodology of clinical trials. The better the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of a trial, the more likely it will be to give unbiased, precise and relevant results that will maximise the chance of making the correct conclusions regarding its use in routine clinical practice. Such research will have a major impact on clinicians, providing them with improved evidence on which to base their medical decisions and to policy decision makers providing robust results to inform health policy (e.g. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) appraisals). This improved decision-making will benefit patients.
DTS aims to design, conduct, analyse and report high quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and other studies to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of new and existing health technologies, with the ultimate aim of improving the health of the public at local, regional, national and international levels.
DTS aims to be known to undertake world class applied health and methodological research and to be recognised as providing excellent research-led teaching.
Background
The Design, Trials and Statistics (DTS) section, within ScHARR, is a dynamic multi-disciplinary research and teaching group consisting of three distinct subgroups:
● National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Design Service for Yorkshire and the Humber (RDS YH);
● Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU);
● Medical Statistics Group (MSG).
If you want to know more about DTS, but can’t find it on the website, please contact the Section Manager, Karen Beck - email karen.beck@sheffield.ac.uk