PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 12705455

Methodological and statistical techniques: what do residents really need to know about statistics?

James F Reed·Philip Salen·Pooneh Bagher
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to catalog the statistical methods used in six journals two each from the fields of Family Practice, Emergency Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. We reviewed the quantitative articles from January 1998 through December 2000 from the Journal of Family Practice, the Journal of Family Medicine, the Annals of Emergency Medicine, the Journal of Academic Emergency Medicine. Articles from January 2000 through December 2000 of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology were also included. Case reports and editorials were not included in this analysis. There were a total of 1828 articles reviewed (666 from Emergency Medicine articles, 380 from Family Practice, and 782 from Obstetrics and Gynecology). The distribution of study types (cross-sectional or survey, retrospective, or prospective) did not differ between the selected journals within Emergency Medicine, Family Practice, or Obstetrics and Gynecology. Pearson's chi-square/Fisher's Exact test was the statistic of choice overall (47.5%) followed by Student's t-test (33.1%). Analysis-of-variance was used in 23.3% of the studies, nonparametric methods (8.1%), linear regression (17.6%), and odds ratios/logistic regression (17.4%). Other statistical procedures were used less than 10% of the time. These results show that a physician who comfortably comprehends the appropriate use of descriptive statistics Student's t-test, Pearson's chi-square/Fisher's Exact test will be able to read and interpret at least 70% of the published medical literature. Educational efforts should focus on appropriate study design and analysis.

Explore related subjects

Clinical CompetenceData CollectionData Interpretation, StatisticalEducation, Medical, ContinuingHumansInternship and ResidencyPeriodicals as TopicUnited StatesJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

James F Reed, Philip Salen, Pooneh Bagher. 2003. Methodological and statistical techniques: what do residents really need to know about statistics?. https://doi.org/10.1023/a%3A1022519227039

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2007

The feasibility of three-dimensional displays of the thorax for preoperative planning in the surgical treatment of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Three-dimensional (3D) displays of anatomic structures have become feasible for preoperative planning in some surgical procedures. There have been no reports, however, on the use of 3D displays for surgical treatment of lung cancer. We hypothesized that 3D displays of the thorax are useful for preoperative planning for lung cancer. METHODS: Based on virtual reality technologies, we rendered 3D displays of the thorax from two-dimensional (2D) computed tomographic (CT) images of six anonymous patients, some of whom underwent surgical removal of lung cancer. For determining the resectability of lung cancer, we tested 17 participants with varying degrees of surgical skills to view 3D displays and read 2D CT images of these thoracic cavities in a randomized order. We measured their performance in terms of the accuracy of predicted resectability, the confidence of their prediction, planning time used, and workload experienced. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that viewing 3D displays of thoracic cavities has significant advantages over reading 2D CT images in determining the resectability of lung cancer: increasing the accuracy of predicted resectability by about 20%, enhancing the confidence of the prediction by about 20%, decreasing planning time by about 30%, and reducing workload by about 50%. All participants preferred viewing 3D displays to reading 2D CT images for preoperative planning. Junior residents found 3D displays of thoraces more useful than senior residents. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to use 3D displays of the thorax for preoperative planning in treating lung cancer. Using 3D displays in surgical treatment of lung cancer has potential benefits, once the technique is perfected.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2007

The learning curve in the training of percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the learning curve in the training of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). METHODS: A total of 104 PCNL cases were included in this evaluation to define the learning curve of a surgeon with no previous experience at performing solo PCNL. Two parameters of expertise were reviewed, namely the operation and fluoroscopic screening times. The operation time was calculated as the beginning of access with the needle until the nephrostomy tube was placed and secured. PCNL procedures were analyzed in seven sets of 15 cases regarding the operation and fluoroscopy times, stone size, stone clearance rate, blood transfusion rate, and estimated blood loss. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 2.4 h for the first 15 patients. It decreased to a mean of 1.5 h for cases 46 through 60. No further decrease in the operation time was observed after case 60. The fluoroscopic screening time was a peak of 17.5 min in the first 15 cases, whereas it dropped to a mean of 8.9 min for cases 46 through 60. The decline in the mean fluoroscopy screening time continued in cases 61 to 104, but the decline was not significant. There was no significant difference in stone size, stone clearance rate, blood transfusion rate, and estimated blood loss among each set of cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the surgical competence in PCNL can be reached after 60 cases. PCNL and fluoroscopy times drop to a steady-state level after performing 60 procedures.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2007

Critical overview of the management of neonatal jaundice in the UK.

AIM: To determine the current management of early neonatal jaundice in the UK and to evaluate whether the current practices are evidence based. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was carried out among identified lead paediatricians of neonatal intensive care units. RESULTS: The survey found markedly differing practices for the recognition, investigation and treatment of neonatal jaundice. This applies particularly to confirmation of the clinical suspicion of jaundice; use of invasive and non-invasive technologies for diagnosis; preferred wavelength and intensity of light used for treatment; and whether birth weight, gestational age and postnatal age should influence treatment. CONCLUSION: The study found a lack of consistency in the management of jaundiced infants in the UK. The evidence-based practice currently available does not appear to have been incorporated into treatment protocols.

Clinical Competence↗