In reviewing manuscripts or in reading published research studies, the reader should always ask about the appropriateness of statistical methods. For the clinician, a clear algorithm will usually remove a lot of the guesswork when deciphering statistical language. Most studies submitted to medical journals, unless they are large population outcomes studies targeting novel metrics, can be analyzed using time-tested, universally understood methods. The intent of this article is to help the clinician perform an initial screen for appropriateness of the statistic methods chosen by the investigators.
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