ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In Korea, the Korean Laboratory Accreditation Program (KLAP) has set minimum standards for verification of clinical test performance. This verification process is time-consuming and labor-intensive when performed manually. We developed a free, statistical software program for KLAP, using the R language (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). METHODS: We used CLSI guidelines for the algorithm. We built graphic user interfaces, including data input, with Embarcadero Delphi EX4 (Embarcadero Technologies, Inc., Texas, USA). The R Base Package and MCR Package for Method Comparison Regression were used to implement statistical and graphical procedures. RESULTS: Our program LaboStats has six modules: parallel test, linearity, method comparison, precision, reference interval, and cutoff. Data can be entered into the field either manually or by copying and pasting from an MS Excel worksheet. Users can print out precise reports. CONCLUSIONS: LaboStats can be useful for evaluating clinical test performance characteristics and preparing documents requested by KLAP.
Subject(s)
Accreditation , Korea , Mathematical Computing , Methods , TexasABSTRACT
This review article presents an assessment of trends in statistical methods and an evaluation of their appropriateness in articles published in the Archives of Plastic Surgery (APS) from 2012 to 2017. We reviewed 388 original articles published in APS between 2012 and 2017. We categorized the articles that used statistical methods according to the type of statistical method, the number of statistical methods, and the type of statistical software used. We checked whether there were errors in the description of statistical methods and results. A total of 230 articles (59.3%) published in APS between 2012 and 2017 used one or more statistical method. Within these articles, there were 261 applications of statistical methods with continuous or ordinal outcomes, and 139 applications of statistical methods with categorical outcome. The Pearson chi-square test (17.4%) and the Mann-Whitney U test (14.4%) were the most frequently used methods. Errors in describing statistical methods and results were found in 133 of the 230 articles (57.8%). Inadequate description of P-values was the most common error (39.1%). Among the 230 articles that used statistical methods, 71.7% provided details about the statistical software programs used for the analyses. SPSS was predominantly used in the articles that presented statistical analyses. We found that the use of statistical methods in APS has increased over the last 6 years. It seems that researchers have been paying more attention to the proper use of statistics in recent years. It is expected that these positive trends will continue in APS.
Subject(s)
Methods , Plastics , Surgery, PlasticABSTRACT
A revista do HCPA (Clinical & Biomedical Research) está reabrindo a seção de Bioestatística com o intuito de apresentar artigos explicativos, conceituais ou tutoriais, de modo a elucidar os leitores sobre os mais diversos temas estatísticos. Neste contexto, este artigo será o primeiro de uma série que tem como objetivo responder algumas das questões mais levantadas por pesquisadores da área da saúde. Começando pela Estatística Descritiva, alguns conceitos são esclarecidos e diversas referências são indicadas para o estudo do tema e para análises em SPSS ou R-project. (AU)
The HCPA journal (Clinical & Biomedical Research) is reopening its Biostatistics section with the aim of presenting readers with explanatory, conceptual or tutorial articles on a wide range of statistical topics. In this context, this is the first in a series of articles seeking to answer some of the questions raised by health researchers. Starting with descriptive statistics, some concepts are introduced and several references are indicated for those interested in studying the topic and performing analyses in SPSS or R-project. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Database Management Systems , Data Interpretation, StatisticalABSTRACT
El estadístico Delta de Cliff permite cuantificar la magnitud de la diferencia entre dos grupos de observaciones que resultan incompatibles con el presupuesto de normalidad. El análisis de esta cuantificación complementa la interpretación del p-valor asociado a la correspondiente prueba de hipótesis. La aplicación de medidas del tamaño del efecto ha sido promovida durante las últimas décadas tanto por metodólogos, como por instituciones líderes en las ciencias del comportamiento. El propósito de la presente contribución es presentar un programa denominado Cliff's Delta Calculator que es capaz de calcular y graficar el valor del tamaño del efecto no paramétrico para dos grupos de observaciones. Se ofrece una comparación de este programa con otras calculadoras comerciales y no comerciales actualmente disponibles. Se describe su funcionamiento, sus fundamentos matemáticos y se presentan y discuten dos ejemplos de aplicación en la investigación psicológica. Se concluye que este programa presenta algunas ventajas en comparación con otras calculadoras comerciales disponibles.
The Cliffs Delta statistic is a non-parametric effect size measure that quantifies the amount of difference between two groups of observations beyond p-values interpretation. This measure can be understood as a useful complementary analysis for the corresponding hypothesis testing. During the last two decades the use of effect size measures has been strongly encouraged by methodologists and leading institutions of behavioral sciences. The aim of this contribution is to introduce the Cliffs Delta Calculator software that performs such analysis and offers some interpretation tips. Differences and similarities with the parametric case are analysed and illustrated. The implementation of this free program is fully described and compared with other calculators. Alternative algorithmic approaches are mathematically analysed and a basic linear algebra proof of its equivalence is formally presented. Two worked examples in cognitive psychology are commented. A visual interpretation of Cliffs Delta is suggested. Availability, installation and applications of the program are presented and discussed.
Subject(s)
Statistics as Topic/methods , Statistics, Nonparametric , Software/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Con el fin de estimular el uso de R en la investigación clínica y a partir de la experiencia con este software para el procesamiento y análisis de datos, se muestran algunas de sus características y las principales ventajas que ofrece su utilización en el campo de los ensayos clínicos. R es un software libre, flexible y dinámico, con una amplia variedad de técnicas estadísticas que se incorporan rápidamente y hacen posible su aplicación. Permite cómodamente presentar la información correspondiente a los usuarios, a la vez que hace posible registrar el proceso estadístico de forma que la documentación quede disponible a posibles auditorias que avalen los resultados obtenidos del estudio.
To encourage the use of R in the clinical research and from the experience with this software for data processing and analysis, some of its features and the major advantages offering its use in the clinical trials are showed. R is free, flexible and dynamic software with a wide variety of statistical techniques of fast incorporation and that make possible its application. It allow in a conveniently way to present the corresponding information to users since make easy to register the statistical process making that documentation be available to potential audits supporting the results obtained from study.
ABSTRACT
Oriental medicine encompasses various areas including Kampo medicine, and alternative treatments such as acupuncture and massage. Special knowledge of statistics is not necessary to understand in oriental medicine, for which it is sufficient to master general statistics. This review describes statistic fundamentals and important issues for submitting an original article. It describes statistical thinking, data collection, study design, special considerations related to oriental medicine, fundamental statistical methods, multivariate analysis, and statistical software. In particular, it deals with the concept of sample variation, observational and experimental studies, rationale for randomization, sample size determination, t-tests, chi-square tests, paired tests, nonparametric methods, P-values, correlation coefficients, multiple regression, and logistic regression.
ABSTRACT
Oriental medicine encompasses various areas including Kampo medicine, and alternative treatments such as acupuncture and massage. Special knowledge of statistics is not necessary to understand in oriental medicine, for which it is sufficient to master general statistics. This review describes statistic fundamentals and important issues for submitting an original article. It describes statistical thinking, data collection, study design, special considerations related to oriental medicine, fundamental statistical methods, multivariate analysis, and statistical software. In particular, it deals with the concept of sample variation, observational and experimental studies, rationale for randomization, sample size determination, t-tests, chi-square tests, paired tests, nonparametric methods, P-values, correlation coefficients, multiple regression, and logistic regression.