Practical epidemiology and biostatistics in research. Study design and statistics.
Soundly planned study may well lead to the findings that are of wide scientific application and interest. This paper is intended to provide a simple and systematic guideline pertinent to the design, analysis and interpretation of studies, especially in the health care. It emphases on the importance of 'Statistics' in the design, conduct, analysis and interpretation of the studies. It is pointed out that all the stages of research studies are vulnerable to statistical mismanagement. The most important thing is to balance the interests of the individuals in the study with those of the much larger number who may benefit in the long run. Concerning the proper use of statistics, the following things are recommended. (a) Statistical advice is needed at the planning stage of a project and not at its end; (b) statistical advice may be saught at almost every stage of a project; (c) the important aspects of logic and correctness of argument may be carefully looked before interpreting the results and (d) finally, before getting any work published, opinion of an expert statistician must be saught, so that erroneous conclusions may not become enshrined as the truth.