Number needed to treat (NNT).
Because decisions regarding therapy are so common in clinical practice, the application of number needed to treat (NNT) is one of the most important evidence-based medicine skills to be acquired. NNT provides a clinically useful "yardstick" of the effort required to have a beneficial outcome or prevent a bad outcome with a therapy. A brief overview of the concept, derivation, and application of NNT is presented.
Cordell
W H
WH
Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center, Methodist Hospital, Clarian Health Partners, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome