Using R and RStudio for Data Management, Statistical Analysis, and Graphics

Nicholas J. Horton and Ken Kleinman


The HELP (Health Evaluation and Linkage to Primary Care) study was a clinical trial for adult inpatients recruited from a detoxification unit. Patients with no primary care physician were randomized to receive a multidisciplinary assessment and a brief motivational intervention or usual care, with the goal of linking them to primary medical care. The Institutional Review Board of Boston University Medical Center approved all aspects of the study, including the creation of the de-identified dataset available on this page. Variables included in the HELP dataset are described in Table B.2 (p. 239) while Table 1.1 (p. 237) provides a comprehensive listing of analyses undertaken in the book using the dataset.

HELP (Health Evaluation and Linkage to Primary Care) dataset (see Appendix B, p. 237)

Other HELP study information and datasets

Massachusetts County dataset (see section 6.4, p. 224)

Baseball (see blog)