Becker P J, Viljoen E, Wolmarans L, IJsselmuiden C B
Centre for Epidemiological Research in Southern Africa, Pretoria.
S Afr Med J. 1995 Sep;85(9):881-4.
To assess the statistical procedures used in original papers published in the SAMJ.
Descriptive study based on a random sample of 100 papers from the 153 papers with methodological content that were published in the SAMJ during 1992.
This review showed that 34% (95% CI (25%; 43%)) of papers used no statistical procedure at all or used simple descriptive statistics only. In sampling methods, there was a predominance of the use of the period sampling method as opposed to probability sampling methods. Inappropriate statistical methods were used in 15% (6%; 24%) of papers, while in 16% (9%; 23%) statistical procedures and in 13% (6%; 20%) the sampling methods used could not be identified. Inaccurate graphical methods were used in 17% (6%; 28%) of papers. Confidence intervals and power calculations are used far too infrequently, in 33% (19%; 47%) and 11% (3%; 19%) of appropriate papers respectively. If the Journal's readers are at least familiar with simple descriptive statistics, contingency table analysis, simple epidemiological statistics, t-test procedure and confidence interval calculation and interpretation, they will have a complete understanding of the statistical content of 60% of original articles published in the Journal.
Guidelines for the statistical treatment of reported data and the statistical review of articles before publication will assist substantially in improving the quality of statistical analysis. More intensive use of available biostatistical and epidemiological expertise at the study design and analysis stages is needed to shift the emphasis from descriptive research to analytical investigation.
评估发表于《南非医学杂志》（SAMJ）的原创论文中所使用的统计方法。
描述性研究，基于从1992年发表在SAMJ上的153篇具有方法学内容的论文中随机抽取的100篇论文。
本综述表明，34%（95%置信区间（25%；43%））的论文根本未使用任何统计方法，或仅使用了简单描述性统计。在抽样方法方面，与概率抽样方法相比，时期抽样方法的使用更为普遍。15%（6%；24%）的论文使用了不恰当的统计方法，而在16%（9%；23%）的论文中无法确定所使用的统计方法，在13%（6%；20%）的论文中无法确定所使用的抽样方法。17%（6%；28%）的论文使用了不准确的图表方法。置信区间和效能计算的使用频率极低，分别仅在33%（19%；47%）和11%（3%；19%）的适当论文中使用。如果该期刊的读者至少熟悉简单描述性统计、列联表分析、简单流行病学统计、t检验程序以及置信区间的计算和解释，那么他们将完全理解该期刊发表的60%原创文章的统计内容。
报告数据的统计处理指南以及文章发表前的统计审查将极大地有助于提高统计分析质量。在研究设计和分析阶段，需要更多地利用现有的生物统计学和流行病学专业知识，将重点从描述性研究转向分析性调查。
