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CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE—CHICKEN OR EGG?
Author(s) -
Po A. Li Wan,
Kendall M. J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.1989.tb00265.x
Subject(s) - statistical significance , clinical significance , tempest , crossover , statistical analysis , crossover study , factorial experiment , clinical trial , statistics , psychology , medicine , computer science , mathematics , artificial intelligence , alternative medicine , pathology , computer security , placebo
It is generally accepted that in order to assess whether a procedure or treatment has an effect, a trial is done and the data subjected to statistical analysis appropriate for the experimental design chosen, be it crossover, parallel group or factorial (1–4). If a statistically significant change is identified then the question arises as to whether the change is clinically significant. Many authors have commented on over‐reliance on statistical significance which may bear no message relating to clinical significance (5–9). One author (10) has humorously labelled this emphasis as ‘Tempest in a P‐pot?’.