About Me

I have a PhD in Public Health (epidemiology, biostatistics) and over 30 years’ experience in the design and statistical analysis of investigator-initiated clinical research at large community health care systems. I work primarily with physicians and to a lesser extent, pharmacists and nurses. Research is a “team sport” and I’ve learned plenty from the clinicians with whom I’ve worked.

I have also worked with Institutional Review Boards (IRBs – multidisciplinary committees that evaluate proposed research for whether the benefits it may provide to the participants outweigh the anticipated risks) and have an interest in research ethics and conflicts of interest in research.

This site is intended for clinicians and others who are planning a research study or who are evaluating a peer-reviewed scientific article. The focus is to inform on the research methodology and statistical concepts that are relevant to these objectives as efficiently as possible.

I like creative writing, too. You will see a few posts with some examples of that.

Below are my publications:

Letters

Shaffer LET.  Ethics, regulation and comparative effectiveness research: time for a change.  JAMA 2014 Sep 3;312(9):963-4.  PMID: 25182110.

Shaffer LET, Krantz CA.  Hormone therapy and cardiovascular risk.  JAMA 2007 Aug 8;298(6): 623-624.  PMID: 17684179.

O’Shaughnessy R, Shaffer LET.  Supplemental progesterone to prevent preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol June 2004; 190(6): 1800-1801.  PMID: 15290821.

Krantz CA, Shaffer LE.  Is the intrapartum biophysical profile useful?  Obstet Gynecol 2004 Feb; 103(2): 400.  PMID: 14754716.

Peer-reviewed Publications

Noureldin EM, Shaffer L. Role of climatic factors in the incidence of dengue in Port Sudan City, Sudan, 2008–2013.  East Mediterr Health J. 2019 Dec 29;25(12):852–860. PMID: 32003443.

Wooten W, Shaffer LET, Hamilton L.  Bedside ultrasound versus chest radiograph in the detection of pulmonary edema: a prospective cohort study.  J Ultrasound Med 2019 Apr;38(4):967-973.  PMID: 30280401.

Yalamanchili HM,  Buchanan SN, Thorns JD, McKenzie NA, Reiss AD, Page MP, Chambers LW, Dizon VA,  Brooks SE, Shaffer LE, Lovald ST, Hartranft TH, Price PD.  Post-laparotomy pain management: comparison of patient-controlled analgesia pump alone, with subcutaneous bupivacaine infusion, or with injection of liposomal bupivacaine suspension.  J Opioid Manag 2019 Mar/Apr;15(2):169-175. PMID: 31343718.

Padmanabhan A, Frangopoulos C, Shaffer L.  Patient satisfaction with propofol for outpatient colonoscopy: a prospective, randomized, double-blind study.  Dis Colon Rectum 2017 Oct;60(10):1102-1108.  PMID: 28891855.

Freidenberg DL, Shaffer LET, Macalester S, Fannin E.  Orthostatic hypotension in dementia patients: symptoms and response to treatment.  Cogn Behav Neurol 2013 Sep;26(3):105-20.  PMID: 24077570.

Dominguez EP, Barrat C, Shaffer L, Gruner R, Whisler D, Taylor P.  Minimally invasive surgery adoption into an established surgical practice: impact of a fellowship-trained colleague.  Surg Endosc 2013 Apr;27(4):1267-72.  PMID: 23232996.

Nyirati C, Habash DL, Shaffer LE.  Weight and body fat changes in postpartum depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate users.  Contraception 2013 Jul;88(1):169-76.  PMID: 23177262.

Wermert AM, Mehl A, Opalek JM, Shaffer LE.  Implementation and early outcomes of a peer-led traffic safety initiative for high school students.  J Trauma Nurs 2012 Apr-Jun;19(2):94-101.  PMID: 22673076.

Willette PA, Banks K, Shaffer LE.  Visually-guided male urinary catheterization – a feasibility study.  J Emerg Nurs 2013 Jan;39(1):27-32.  PMID: 21937096.

Chambers LA, Chow SJ, Shaffer LET.  Frequency and characteristics of coagulopathy in trauma patients treated with a low or high plasma content massive transfusion protocol.  Am J Clin Pathol 2011 Sep 1;136(3):364-70.    PMID: 21846911.

Trappe KL, Shaffer LET, Stempel LE.  Vaginal-perianal versus vaginal-rectal cultures for detecting Group B Streptococci during pregnancy.  Obstet & Gynecol 2011 Aug;118(2 Pt 1): 313-7.  PMID: 21775847.

Myers SR, Rothermel WS, Shaffer L.  The effect of tissue compression on circular stapler line failure.  Surg Endosc 2011 Sep;25(9):3043-9.  PMID: 21487874.

Padavano J, Shaffer L, Fannin E, Burgers J, Poll W, Ward E, Banks K, Bell J.  Robotic radical prostatectomy at a teaching community hospital: clinical outcomes and safety evaluation.  JSLS 2011 Apr-Jun;15(2):193-9.  PMID: 21902974.

Snow R, Ruane J, Lalonde M, Shaffer L, Kim B, Graffagnino C, Falko J, Spencer K, Caulin-Glaser T.  Randomized trial assessing the impact of a musculoskeletal intervention for pain before participating in a weight management program.  J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev 2010 May-Jun;30(3): 173-80.  PMID: 20040884.

Long L, Vanderhoff B, Smyke N, Shaffer LE, Solomon J, Steuer JD.  Management of difficult airways using a hospital-wide “Alpha Team.” Am J Med Qual 2010 Jul-Aug;25(4): 297-304.  PMID:

Marable KA, Shaffer LET, Dizon V, Opalek JM.  Temporal artery scanning falls short as a secondary, noninvasive thermometry method for trauma patients.  J Trauma Nurs 2009;16(1): 41-47.  PMID: 19305299.

Farooki S, Barboza R, Fox J, Opalek J, Shaffer LET.  Incidental findings in the cervical spine – the impact of CT evaluation in trauma.  Am J Roent 2009 Mar;192(3): 725-9.  PMID: 19234270. 

Starling S, Knoell K, Shaffer L. Utilization of vitamin K in an outpatient anticoagulation clinic.  J Thromb Thombolysis 2008;25:92. 

Santanello S, Dean D, Hayes JR, Bonta M, Groner J, Martin L, Sinard J, Shaffer LET, Bechtel N.  Perceived value of trauma autopsy among trauma medical directors and coroners.  Injury 2008;39: 1075-1081.  PMID: 18586251.

Lang CT, O’Shaughnessy R, Girardi G, Shaffer L, Coats K, Edmondson-Holt A. False-positive gestational diabetes screening – is there an association with large for gestational age fetuses and the attendant complications? Obstet Gynecol 2007 Apr;109(4S): 10S.

Bell JG, Shaffer LET, Schrickel-Feller T.  Randomized trial comparing three methods of postoperative analgesia in gynecology patients: patient-controlled intravenous, scheduled intravenous, and scheduled subcutaneous.  Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007 Nov;197(5):472.e1-7.  PMID: 17980179.

Costin JA, Watson DR, Duff SB, Edmondson-Holt A, Shaffer L, Blossom GB.  Evaluation of the complexity of open abdominal aneurysm repair in the era of endovascular stent grafting. J Vasc Surg 2006 May; 43(5): 915-920.  PMID: 16678683.

Graffagnino CL, Falko JM, La Londe M, Schaumburg J, Hyek MF, Shaffer LE, Snow R, Caulin-Glaser T. Effect of a community-based weight management program on weight loss and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Obes Res 2006 Feb;14(2):280-8.  PMID: 16571854.

Lister M, Shaffer LET, Bell JG, Lutter KQ, Moorma M.  Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vaginal misoprostol for management of early pregnancy failures. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2005 Oct; 139(4): 1338-1343.  PMID: 16202723.

Bell JG, Kanellitsas I, Shaffer LET.  Selection of obstetrics and gynecology residents based upon medical school performance.  Am J Obstet Gynecol May 2002; 186(5):1091-1094.  PMID: 12015542.

Hopkins RS, Tyler LE, Mortensen BK. Effects of maternal cigarette smoking on birth weight and preterm birth – Ohio, 1989.  MMWR 1990 Sept 28;39(38):662-665.