Is clustering accounted for in studies published in periodontology and oral implantology specialty journals?

Lempesi, Evangelia; Pandis, Nikolaos; Jr, Clovis Faggion; Seehra, Jadbinder (2023). Is clustering accounted for in studies published in periodontology and oral implantology specialty journals? Journal of periodontology, 94(8), pp. 967-975. American Academy of Periodontology 10.1002/JPER.22-0653

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BACKGROUND

Clustering effects can be encountered in periodontology and implant dentistry research. The aim of this study was to identify studies with clustering effects published in Periodontology and oral implantology specialty journals and to assess the frequency by which clustered designs are correctly accounted for in the statistical analysis.

METHODS

10 Periodontology and oral Implantology journals were searched to identify studies with clustering effects published between 1st January 2019 and 31st July 2021. Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions were calculated. Associations between the correct statistical handling of clustering effects and study characteristics were explored.

RESULTS

695 studies were included of which 45.0% correctly accounted for clustering effects in the statistical analysis. Certain journals (p<0.01) and animal studies (p<0.01) had lower odds of correctly accounting for clustering effects in the statistical analysis, whereas per unit increase in impact factor (p<0.001), involvement of statistician (p<0.001) and when the study design included either repeated measures only (p<0.01) or both clustering and repeated measures (p<0.001) had higher odds. The most commonly used tests were the mixed models or GEE (64.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

Greater awareness of the importance of accounting for clustering effects is required to prevent incorrect inferences being drawn. Incorrect inferences are related to lack of data independence and the artificial inflation of the sample size which can result in statistically significant results which are not genuine. This issue can be further exaggerated in combination with publication bias. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > School of Dental Medicine > Department of Orthodontics

UniBE Contributor:

Pandis, Nikolaos

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0022-3492

Publisher:

American Academy of Periodontology

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

20 Feb 2023 12:51

Last Modified:

18 Aug 2023 00:12

Publisher DOI:

10.1002/JPER.22-0653

PubMed ID:

36799353

Uncontrolled Keywords:

clustering journals oral implantology periodontology statistical analysis

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/178927

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