目的:虽然统计分析在医学科学中起着至关重要的作用,一些已发表的研究可能使用了次优的分析方法,可能会破坏他们发现的可信度。严格评估分析方法可以帮助提高证据标准,并确保临床医生和其他利益相关者获得可信赖的结果,作为决策的基础。本研究的目的是检查2021-2022年在秘鲁医学期刊上发表的原始文章的统计特征。
方法:我们对2021年至2022年之间发表的来自SciELO-秘鲁索引的9种医学期刊的文章进行了方法学研究,Scopus,Medline我们包括了进行分析分析的原创文章(即,变量之间的关联)。评估的统计变量是:用于分析的统计软件,样本量,和采用的统计方法(效果衡量标准),控制混杂因素,以及用于混淆控制或流行病学方法的方法。
结果:我们收录了313篇文章(在期刊上有11到77篇),其中67.7%为横断面研究.虽然90.7%的文章指定了使用的统计软件,78.3%省略了样本量计算的细节。通常采用描述性和双变量统计,而关联测量则不太常见.只有13.4%的文章(从0%到39%的期刊)提出了干扰的效果控制措施,并解释了选择此类干扰的标准。
结论:这项研究揭示了秘鲁期刊上发表的分析研究中的重要统计缺陷,包括样本量报告不足,缺乏关联和混杂控制措施,以及关于调整后分析所用方法的次优解释。这些发现强调了需要更好的统计报告和研究人员与编辑合作,以提高秘鲁期刊的研究制作和传播质量。
OBJECTIVE: While statistical analysis plays a crucial role in medical science, some published studies might have utilized suboptimal analysis methods, potentially undermining the credibility of their findings. Critically appraising analytical approaches can help elevate the standard of evidence and ensure clinicians and other stakeholders have trustworthy results on which to base decisions. The aim of the present study was to examine the statistical characteristics of original articles published in Peruvian medical journals in 2021-2022.
METHODS: We performed a methodological study of articles published between 2021 and 2022 from nine medical journals indexed in SciELO-Peru, Scopus, and Medline. We included original articles that conducted analytical analyses (i.e., association between variables). The statistical variables assessed were: statistical software used for analysis, sample size, and statistical methods employed (measures of effect), controlling for confounders, and the method employed for confounder control or epidemiological approaches.
RESULTS: We included 313 articles (ranging from 11 to 77 across journals), of which 67.7% were cross-sectional studies. While 90.7% of articles specified the statistical software used, 78.3% omitted details on sample size calculation. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were commonly employed, whereas measures of association were less common. Only 13.4% of articles (ranging from 0% to 39% across journals) presented measures of effect controlling for confounding and explained the criteria for selecting such confounders.
CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed important statistical deficiencies within analytical studies published in Peruvian journals, including inadequate reporting of sample sizes, absence of measures of association and confounding control, and suboptimal explanations regarding the methodologies employed for adjusted analyses. These findings highlight the need for better statistical reporting and researcher-editor collaboration to improve the quality of research production and dissemination in Peruvian journals.