Open AccessPropensity scores and the surgeon
Author(s) -
Adamina M.,
Guller U.,
Weber W. P.,
Oertli D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
british journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.202
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1365-2168
pISSN - 0007-1323
DOI - 10.1002/bjs.5265
Subject(s) - medicine , propensity score matching , observational study , randomized controlled trial , medline , evidence based medicine , medical physics , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology , political science , law
Background: Evidence‐based surgery has been established as a cornerstone of good clinical practice, promising to improve the treatment of patients and the quality of surgical education. However, evidence‐based surgery requires dedicated clinicians trained to perform methodologically sound clinical investigations. Statistical knowledge is therefore invaluable. Surgical studies often cannot be randomized. Propensity scores offer a powerful alternative to multivariable analysis in the assessment of observational, non‐randomized surgical studies. Unfortunately, many surgeons are unaware of this important analytical approach that has gained increasing stature in medical research. Thus, propensity score analyses are not used often in surgical studies. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of propensity score analysis, allowing the surgeon to understand the role, advantages and limitations of propensity scores, boosting their development in surgical investigations. Copyright © 2006 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.