Document Detail


P values: use and misuse in medical literature.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20966898     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
P values are widely used in the medical literature but many authors, reviewers, and readers are unfamiliar with a valid definition of a P value, let alone how to interpret one correctly. Popular explanations such as "the probability that study results are due to chance" are wrong in a variety of ways and can lead to substantial errors in evaluating the evidence from research studies. Belief that "statistical significance" can alone discriminate between truth and falsehood borders on magical thinking. The article points out how to better interpret P values by avoiding common errors. Statistical analyses and P values are important tools in evidence-based medicine, but have to be used cautiously and with better understanding.
Authors:
Hillel W Cohen
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Review     Date:  2010-10-21
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of hypertension     Volume:  24     ISSN:  1941-7225     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. J. Hypertens.     Publication Date:  2011 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-12-17     Completed Date:  2011-02-11     Revised Date:  2011-06-30    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8803676     Medline TA:  Am J Hypertens     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  18-23     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA. hillel.cohen@einstein.yu.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Confidence Intervals
Data Interpretation, Statistical*
Humans
Models, Statistical
Probability*
Research Design
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
KL2 RR 025749/RR/NCRR NIH HHS; TL1 RR 025748/RR/NCRR NIH HHS; UL1 RR 025750/RR/NCRR NIH HHS

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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