Statistical significance versus clinical significance.
Unfortunately, the data were statistically nonsignificant due to insufficient power and poor experimental design. Conversely, many large clinical trials obtain a high level of statistical significance with miniscule differences between groups, which are completely clinically irrelevant. However, with proper marketing, billions can be made from results of dubious clinical importance. In this article, the differences between statistical and clinical significance are briefly discussed.
Houle
Timothy T
TT
Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
Stump
David A
DA
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures