Statistical Analysis Used for the Studies in the Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To review the statistical analysis used for the studies in the Journal of the Korean orthopaedic Association. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed the statistical analysis used for the studies in the Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association (JKOA) published in 1997 and compared that with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS). RESULTS: In JKOA, 97 out of 205 papers (47.3%) used statistical analysis. Total number of analytic methods was 140 (1.44 per paper in an average). In JBJS, 109 out of 159 papers (68.6%) used statistical analysis and total number of analytic methods was 202 (1.85 per paper in an average). In JKOA, analysis of means was used 98 times (70.0%), analysis of regression and correlation 8 times (5.7%), analysis of categorical data 30 times (21.4%), analysis of survival data 3 times (2.1%) and other methods just once (0.7%). In JBJS, analysis of means was used 114 times (56.4%), analysis of regression and correlation 10 times (5.0%), analysis of categorical data 55 times (27.2%), analysis of survival data 21 times (10.4%) and other methods 2 times (1.0%). CONCLUSIONS: In both journals, t-test, chisquare test and analysis of variance were commonly used analytic methods. In JKOA, the results of 10 out of 97 papers (10.3%) were difficult to understand because of insufficient explanation of the analytic methods used.

Publication Patterns of Paper Presented at the Annual Fall Congress of the Korean Orthopaedic Association / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Presentation of research work is an important first step toward effective scientific communication of the research results. To determine the current puhlication patterns of the paper presented at the annual fall congress of the Korean Orthopaedic Association, we analysed 357 orally presented ahstracts at the 38th annual fall congress of the Korean Orthopaedic Asssociation which was held in 1994. This search revealed that full-length articles of 156 ahstracts (44%) were puhlished in the Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Asssociation (121 ahstracts, 34%) and the Journals asssociated with the Korean Orthopaedic Asssociation (35 ahstracts, I 0%). The number of published papers was greatest in fracture part, followed by spine part, hip part, etc. It took ahout 13 months mean interval to publish at journal since oral presented date. The puhlication rate 44% was relatively low compared with the reports of various foreign disciplines. So endeavors to increase publication rates of orally presented papers will he needed.