Use of the odds ratio to translate neuropsychological test scores into real-world outcomes: from statistical significance to clinical significance.
Standard parametric tests generate p values and effect sizes, but often these are difficult to translate into real-world outcomes. In this study, the odds ratio was applied to neuropsychological testing and was compared to parametric approaches. Participants were 26 community-dwelling adults with possible or probable Alzheimer's disease and 25 matched healthy community-dwelling volunteers. Odds ratios were computed to estimate the probability of concurrent diagnosis given neuropsychological performance level. Odds ratios discriminated the groups at magnitudes that could not be discerned from t-test significance tables. These values were compared to sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy. Clinical and research applications and implications were addressed.
Bieliauskas
L A
LA
Psychology Service (116B), VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Fastenau
P S
PS
Lacy
M A
MA
Roper
B L
BL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies