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Abstract

Difference between "Clinical Significance and Statistical Significance" should be kept in mind while interpreting "statistical hypothesis testing" results in clinical research. This fact is already known to many but again pointed out here as philosophy of "statistical hypothesis testing" is sometimes unnecessarily criticized mainly due to failure in considering such distinction. Randomized controlled trials are also wrongly criticized similarly. Some scientific method may not be applicable in some peculiar/particular situation does not mean that the method is useless. Also remember that "statistical hypothesis testing" is not for decision making and the field of "decision analysis" is very much an integral part of science of statistics. It is not correct to say that "confidence intervals have nothing to do with confidence" unless one understands meaning of the word "confidence" as used in context of confidence interval. Interpretation of the results of every study should always consider all possible alternative explanations like chance, bias, and confounding. Statistical tests in inferential statistics are, in general, designed to answer the question "How likely is the difference found in random sample(s) is due to chance" and therefore limitation of relying only on statistical significance in making clinical decisions should be avoided.

Details

Title
Interpreting "statistical hypothesis testing" results in clinical research
Author
Sarmukaddam, Sanjeev
Pages
65-69
Publication year
2012
Publication date
Apr 2012
Publisher
Elsevier Limited
ISSN
09759476
e-ISSN
09762809
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1020356473
Copyright
Copyright Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd Apr 2012