Join host Dr Gavin Nimon (Orthopaedic Surgeon) as he unlocks the mysteries of medical statistics and take your clinical decision-making skills to new heights with insights from Dr. Adam Badenoch, an anaesthetist with a Master's in Biostatistics. Discover how essential concepts like central tendency, distribution, and variance can transform your understanding of medical research. Dr. Badenoch explains the significance of numerical and categorical data, and sheds light on how outliers can alter the mean and median, equipping you with the tools needed to critically assess statistical evidence in healthcare.
Venture into the complex world of hypothesis testing, where we explore the importance of the null hypothesis and the scrutiny needed before changing clinical practices. Dr. Badenoch demystifies the role of p-values and addresses common criticisms such as the arbitrary 0.05 significance threshold and publication bias. By emphasizing the necessity of defining clinical importance and analysis methods at the outset of studies, this discussion urges a thoughtful balance between scientific integrity and interpretation.
Our episode culminates with an insightful look into research study design and the indispensable role of statistical tools in evaluating studies. Learn about confidence intervals and their power to reveal the range of plausible values for true population parameters, standing in contrast to p-values. We also touch on the challenges of implementing evidence-based medicine in practice, with a nod to the potential and pitfalls of artificial intelligence in data analysis. This episode is a must for healthcare professionals aiming to refine their statistical acumen and apply evidence-based insights effectively.