P-LESS-THAN.05 - BUT IS IT CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT - PRACTICAL EXAMPLES FOR CLINICIAN

Many researchers report the p value of an analysis to communicate whet her findings an: significant. This may be misinterpreted to imply that if p < .05 the finding is also of clinical significance. Researchers should also report the magnitude of the association, an easily calcula ted statistic, to allow a better understanding of results when p < .05 . Methods for doing this for t, chi(2), and F values are given. The cl inical significance of an intervention is also commonly determined by whether p < .05. A better understanding, however, is gained by then ca lculating the effect size (d). This measure enables effects and streng ths of association to be compared among studies. Methods for doing thi s, for the same statistics, are given.