A practical guide to statistics for general practice

ABSTRACT

EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE is a well-established part of general practice in Australia.1 Understanding research is embedded within the current curriculum of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), with the ability to discuss 'scientific and statistical information' for clinical decisions listed as a required skillset for general practitioners (GPs).2 In the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted that interpreting epidemiology and statistics is not only relevant for GP academics, but is also an integral part of clinical care.3 For example, GPs are often the first point of contact for patients asking about the evidence for masks, diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19 tests, vaccine efficacy and effectiveness of new antiviral treatments. In clinical practice, framing a research question, conducting a database search and critical appraisal of the selected paper are key first steps in interpreting and using research evidence.