Evidence Is not Satisfactory

P-value: What is and what is not

The misinterpretation and misuse of p-value have been increasing for decades. In March 2016, the American Statistical Association released a statement to warn about the use and interpretation of p-value. In this study, we provided a definition and discussion of p-value and emphasized the importance of its accurate interpretation.    

Concern is not based on evidence.

Rural maternity care I can certainly relate to Dr de Leeuw’s article in the July issue of Canadian Family Physician.1 My family practice started in Flin Flon in northern Manitoba in 1972. We safely delivered many babies with GP obstetricians, anesthetists, and surgeons. We had a good rapport with our specialist colleagues in Winnipeg, Man. I moved to Mission, BC, in the Fraser Valley in 1976 an...

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

Randomized controlled clinical trials are conducted to determine whether differences of clinical importance exist between selected treatment regimens. When statistical analysis of the study data finds a P value greater than 5%, it is convention to deem the assessed difference nonsignificant. Just because convention dictates that such study findings be termed nonsignificant, or negative, howev...

When There Is Not Enough Evidence and When Evidence Is Not Enough: An Australian Indigenous Smoking Policy Study

BACKGROUND The Indigenous Tobacco Control Initiative and Tackling Indigenous Smoking Measure were both announced by the Australian Government at a time when its rhetoric around the importance of evidence-based policy making was strong. This article will (1) examine how the Rudd Government used evidence in Indigenous tobacco control policy making and (2) explore the facilitators of and barriers ...

health communication what it is and what is not