Appropriateness of reporting statistical results in orthodontics: the dominance of P values over confidence intervals

Polychronopoulou, Argy; Pandis, Nikolaos; Eliades, Theodore (2011). Appropriateness of reporting statistical results in orthodontics: the dominance of P values over confidence intervals. European journal of orthodontics, 33(1), pp. 22-5. Oxford: Oxford University Press 10.1093/ejo/cjq025

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The purpose of this study was to search the orthodontic literature and determine the frequency of reporting of confidence intervals (CIs) in orthodontic journals with an impact factor. The six latest issues of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, the European Journal of Orthodontics, and the Angle Orthodontist were hand searched and the reporting of CIs, P values, and implementation of univariate or multivariate statistical analyses were recorded. Additionally, studies were classified according to the type/design as cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and clinical trials, and according to the subject of the study as growth/genetics, behaviour/psychology, diagnosis/treatment, and biomaterials/biomechanics. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics followed by univariate examination of statistical associations, logistic regression, and multivariate modelling. CI reporting was very limited and was recorded in only 6 per cent of the included published studies. CI reporting was independent of journal, study area, and design. Studies that used multivariate statistical analyses had a higher probability of reporting CIs compared with those using univariate statistical analyses. Misunderstanding of the use of P values and CIs may have important implications in implementation of research findings in clinical practice.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

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

UniBE Contributor:

Pandis, Nikolaos

ISSN:

0141-5387

Publisher:

Oxford University Press

Language:

English

Submitter:

Eveline Carmen Schuler

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:16

Last Modified:

19 Dec 2022 10:52

Publisher DOI:

10.1093/ejo/cjq025

PubMed ID:

20631084

Web of Science ID:

000286673500004

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/4421

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/4421 (FactScience: 208623)

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