The first and only comprehensive guide to modern record theory andits applications Although it is often thought of as a special topic in orderstatistics, records form a unique area, independent of the study ofsample extremes. Interest in records has increased steadily overthe years since Chandler formulated the theory of records in 1952.Numerous applications of them have been developed in such far-flungfields as meteorology, sports analysis, hydrology, and stock marketanalysis, to name just a few. And the literature on the subjectcurrently comprises papers and journal articles numbering in thehundreds. Which is why it is so nice to have this book devotedexclusively to this lively area of statistics. Written by an exceptionally well-qualified author team, Recordspresents a comprehensive treatment of record theory and itsapplications in a variety of disciplines. With the help of amultitude of fascinating examples, Professors Arnold, Balakrishnan,and Nagaraja help readers quickly master basic and advanced recordvalue concepts and procedures, from the classical record valuemodel to random and multivariate record models. The book follows arational textbook format, featuring witty and insightful chapterintroductions that help smooth transitions from one topic toanother and challenging chapter-end exercises, which expand on thematerial covered. An extensive bibliography and numerous referencesthroughout the text specify sources for further readings onrelevant topics. Records is a valuable professional resource forprobabilists and statisticians, in addition to appliedstatisticians, meteorologists, hydrologists, market analysts, andsports analysts. It also makes an excellent primary text forcourses in record theory and a supplement to order statisticscourses.

This User’s Guide is intended to support the design, implementation, analysis, interpretation, and quality evaluation of registries created to increase understanding of patient outcomes. For the purposes of this guide, a patient registry is an organized system that uses observational study methods to collect uniform data (clinical and other) to evaluate specified outcomes for a population defined by a particular disease, condition, or exposure, and that serves one or more predetermined scientific, clinical, or policy purposes. A registry database is a file (or files) derived from the registry. Although registries can serve many purposes, this guide focuses on registries created for one or more of the following purposes: to describe the natural history of disease, to determine clinical effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of health care products and services, to measure or monitor safety and harm, and/or to measure quality of care. Registries are classified according to how their populations are defined. For example, product registries include patients who have been exposed to biopharmaceutical products or medical devices. Health services registries consist of patients who have had a common procedure, clinical encounter, or hospitalization. Disease or condition registries are defined by patients having the same diagnosis, such as cystic fibrosis or heart failure. The User’s Guide was created by researchers affiliated with AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program, particularly those who participated in AHRQ’s DEcIDE (Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions About Effectiveness) program. Chapters were subject to multiple internal and external independent reviews.

This book trains the next generation of scientists representing different disciplines to leverage the data generated during routine patient care. It formulates a more complete lexicon of evidence-based recommendations and support shared, ethical decision making by doctors with their patients. Diagnostic and therapeutic technologies continue to evolve rapidly, and both individual practitioners and clinical teams face increasingly complex ethical decisions. Unfortunately, the current state of medical knowledge does not provide the guidance to make the majority of clinical decisions on the basis of evidence. The present research infrastructure is inefficient and frequently produces unreliable results that cannot be replicated. Even randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the traditional gold standards of the research reliability hierarchy, are not without limitations. They can be costly, labor intensive, and slow, and can return results that are seldom generalizable to every patient population. Furthermore, many pertinent but unresolved clinical and medical systems issues do not seem to have attracted the interest of the research enterprise, which has come to focus instead on cellular and molecular investigations and single-agent (e.g., a drug or device) effects. For clinicians, the end result is a bit of a “data desert” when it comes to making decisions. The new research infrastructure proposed in this book will help the medical profession to make ethically sound and well informed decisions for their patients.