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Dr. Semmelweis and the Importance of Handwashing

BasicSkill Level
4.8+
314 reviews
Updated 07/2024
Reanalyze the data behind one of the most important discoveries of modern medicine: handwashing.
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RData ManipulationData Visualization
1 hr
1 Task
1,500 XP
25,088

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Project Description

Dr. Semmelweis and the Importance of Handwashing

In 1847, the Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis made a breakthrough discovery: he discovered handwashing and enforced it at his hospital to save hundreds of lives. Perform data analysis to explore the data behind one of the most important discoveries in modern medicine.

Dr. Semmelweis and the Importance of Handwashing

Reanalyze the data behind one of the most important discoveries of modern medicine: handwashing.
Start Free Project
  • 1

    Reanalyze the medical data Semmelweis collected using R.

Don’t just take our word for it

*4.8
from 314 reviews
87%
13%
0%
0%
0%
  • Ahmed
    2 days ago

  • Joshua
    5 days ago

  • Mele
    last week

    I really enjoyed this project. You look at real data from a Vienna hospital in the 1840s and check whether handwashing actually saved mothers' lives, which makes the coding feel like it matters. I practised loading CSVs, turning deaths and births into a rate, plotting with ggplot2, and comparing before-and-after averages. The result surprised me: the average monthly death rate dropped from about 10.5% to about 2.1% once handwashing started, roughly an 80% cut. I did get stuck on two small errors: a missing comma and a column name spelt two different ways, so double-check your spelling and punctuation, and run your code from the top before you submit. Great beginner-friendly project.

  • Adeola
    last week

  • William
    2 weeks ago

  • Darius
    2 weeks ago

Ahmed

Adeola

William

FAQs

Is this project suitable for beginners?

Yes, this project is suitable for beginners as it provides a hands-on introduction to data analysis using R.

2. What is the programming language of this project?

The programming language of this project is R.

3. Can I add this project to my Data Portfolio?

Yes, this project can be added to your Data Portfolio upon completion.

4. Do I need to download any software to complete this project?

No, all tasks and exercises for this project can be completed using DataCamp Workspace.

5. What is the project about?

The project is about reanalyzing the data behind the discovery of handwashing in modern medicine.

6. What prior knowledge is needed for this project?

Some basic knowledge of data analysis and R programming language would be helpful, but not required.

7. How long will it take to complete this project?

The estimated time for completion of this project is 4 hours.

8. Are there any prerequisites for this project?

No, there are no prerequisites for this project, it is designed for beginners and can be completed using DataCamp Workspace.

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