P Values: Use and Misuse in Medical Literature

P values are widely used in the medical literature but many authors, reviewers, and readers are unfamiliar with a valid definition of a P value, let alone how to interpret one correctly. Popular explanations such as "the probability that study results are due to chance" are wrong in a vari...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of hypertension 2011-01, Vol.24 (1), p.18-23
Main Author: Cohen, Hillel W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension
Biological and medical sciences
Blood and lymphatic vessels
Cardiology. Vascular system
Confidence Intervals
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment
Humans
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...)
Models, Statistical
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Probability
Research Design
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:P values are widely used in the medical literature but many authors, reviewers, and readers are unfamiliar with a valid definition of a P value, let alone how to interpret one correctly. Popular explanations such as "the probability that study results are due to chance" are wrong in a variety of ways and can lead to substantial errors in evaluating the evidence from research studies. Belief that "statistical significance" can alone discriminate between truth and falsehood borders on magical thinking. The article points out how to better interpret P values by avoiding common errors. Statistical analyses and P values are important tools in evidence-based medicine, but have to be used cautiously and with better understanding. American Journal of Hypertension, advance online publication 21 October 2010; doi:10.1038/ajh.2010.205
ISSN:0895-7061
1941-7225
1879-1905
DOI:10.1038/ajh.2010.205