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An evaluation of the quality of statistical design and analysis of published medical research : results from a systematic survey of general orthopaedic journals
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Parsons, Nicholas R., Price, Charlotte L., Hiskens, Richard, Achten, Juul and Costa, Matthew L. (2012) An evaluation of the quality of statistical design and analysis of published medical research : results from a systematic survey of general orthopaedic journals. BMC Medical Research Methodology, Vol.12 (No.1). Article no. 60. doi:10.1186/1471-2288-12-60
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-12-60
Abstract
Background:
The application of statistics in reported research in trauma and orthopaedic surgery has become ever more important and complex. Despite the extensive use of statistical analysis, it is still a subject which is often not conceptually well understood, resulting in clear methodological flaws and inadequate reporting in many papers.
Methods:
A detailed statistical survey sampled 100 representative orthopaedic papers using a validated questionnaire that assessed the quality of the trial design and statistical analysis methods.
Results:
The survey found evidence of failings in study design, statistical methodology and presentation of the results. Overall, in 17% (95% confidence interval; 10–26%) of the studies investigated the conclusions were not clearly justified by the results, in 39% (30–49%) of studies a different analysis should have been undertaken and in 17% (10–26%) a different analysis could have made a difference to the overall conclusions.
Conclusion:
It is only by an improved dialogue between statistician, clinician, reviewer and journal editor that the failings in design methodology and analysis highlighted by this survey can be addressed.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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| Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) | ||||
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Clinical Trials Unit |
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| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Systematic reviews (Medical research), Orthopedics -- Periodicals, Experimental design | ||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | BMC Medical Research Methodology | ||||
| Publisher: | BioMed Central Ltd. | ||||
| ISSN: | 1471-2288 | ||||
| Official Date: | 2012 | ||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | Vol.12 | ||||
| Number: | No.1 | ||||
| Page Range: | Article no. 60 | ||||
| DOI: | 10.1186/1471-2288-12-60 | ||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Open Access |
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