The difference between clinical significance and statistical significance: an important distinction for clinical research
SADİ ELASAN · 2024
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Description
A trial result can be real and still not matter, and Sadi Elasan writes to remind clinicians of the difference. Statistical significance, judged by the p-value, asks whether a finding is likely due to chance. Clinical significance asks a harder question: does the finding change anything for patients? The two are often confused when results move from journals into practice.
Elasan gives a plain example. A drug that lowers blood pressure by a small margin may pass the statistical test easily. Whether that margin helps anyone needs long follow-up and wider study. Tools like effect size and the minimal clinically important difference help make the judgment. The letter argues that medical decisions deserve both answers, not just the easier one.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | SADİ ELASAN |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2024 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 3 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |