An overview of robust methods in medical research

Robust statistics is an extension of classical parametric statistics that specifically takes into account the fact that the assumed parametric models used by the researchers are only approximate. In this article, we review and outline how robust inferential procedures may routinely be applied in practice in the biomedical research. Numerical illustrations are given for the t-test, regression models, logistic regression, survival analysis and ROC curves, showing that robust methods are often more appropriate than standard procedures.