Overview of statistical methods usage in Indian anaesthesia publications

Overview of statistical methods usage in Indian anaesthesia publications

Background and Aims: Despite the importance of statistics being well established for medical research, it remains a neglected area of understanding and learning. The present survey aimed to examine the use of various statistical methods in a two-year sample (2019-2020) of representative Indian anaes...

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Published in:Indian journal of anaesthesia Vol. 66; no. 11; pp. 783 - 788
Main Authors: Tyagi, Asha, Garg, Devansh, Mohan, Aparna, Salhotra, Rashmi, Vashisth, Ishita, Agrawal, Ananya, Deshpande, Sanika, Deep, Sonali, Das, Sacchidananda, Malhotra, Rajeev, Pradhan, Rajeev, Panda, Aparajita
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-11-2022
Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd
Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
Wolters Kluwer - Medknow
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
Subjects:
anaesthesia
anaesthesiology
Analysis
Anesthesia
biomedical research
Evidence-based medicine
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Methods
Original
research design
roc curve
Statistical methods
Surveys
India
Anaesthesia
ROC curve
anaesthesiology
research design
biomedical research
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Summary:Background and Aims: Despite the importance of statistics being well established for medical research, it remains a neglected area of understanding and learning. The present survey aimed to examine the use of various statistical methods in a two-year sample (2019-2020) of representative Indian anaesthesia journals and compare it with an international top-ranked journal. Methods: The literature survey included analysis of 748 original articles from 'Indian Journal of Anaesthesia' (179), 'Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology' (125) and 'Anesthesia & Analgesia' (444) published over the period. Original research articles were identified from the table of contents of each issue. Articles were assessed for statistical methods, categorised as being descriptive, elementary, multivariable, advanced multivariate or diagnostic/classification. Results: Compared to Anesthesia & Analgesia, the Indian journals (considered together) had a significantly greater use of mean (standard deviation) (91.2% versus 70%) and percentages (79.5% versus 67.6%) (P = 0.000 each); and lesser for Wilcoxon (5.4% versus 14.6%) and Pearson/Spearman (5.1% versus 13.5%) correlation tests (P = 0.000 each), multivariable tests including various regression methods (P < 0.001), classification/diagnostic tests [Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, P = 0.022; sensitivity/specificity, P = 0.000; precision, P = 0.006; and relative risk/risk ratio, P = 0.010] and a virtual absence of complex multivariate tests. Conclusion: The findings show limited use of advanced complex statistical methods in Indian anaesthesia journals, usually being restricted to descriptive or elementary. There was a strong bias towards using randomised controlled designs. The findings suggest an urgent and focussed need on training in research methodology, including statistical methods, during postgraduation and continued medical training.
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ISSN:0019-5049
0976-2817
DOI:10.4103/ija.ija_667_22