The misunderstood P-value: why statistical significance is not enough in clinical practice

Ebadullah S. Ahmed; Mohsin N. Butt

doi:10.1016/j.bja.2025.01.008

The misunderstood P-value: why statistical significance is not enough in clinical practice

Ebadullah S. Ahmed
, Mohsin N. Butt

Department of Anaesthesia, Medical College, Pakistan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

P-values have traditionally guided clinical research, but over-reliance on them can lead to misinterpretation and poor decision-making. This article highlights common misconceptions about P-values and suggests incorporating the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) along with other metrics such as effect sizes and Bayesian methods. Evidence-based practice is essential in anaesthesiology, and research findings should be evaluated in the context of patient outcomes to guide clinical decisions.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	909-913
Number of pages	5
Journal	British Journal of Anaesthesia
Volume	134
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2025.01.008
Publication status	Published - Apr 2025

Keywords

P-value
clinical relevance
confidence interval
machine learning
minimum clinically important difference
second-generation P-value
statistical significance

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10.1016/j.bja.2025.01.008

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abstract = "P-values have traditionally guided clinical research, but over-reliance on them can lead to misinterpretation and poor decision-making. This article highlights common misconceptions about P-values and suggests incorporating the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) along with other metrics such as effect sizes and Bayesian methods. Evidence-based practice is essential in anaesthesiology, and research findings should be evaluated in the context of patient outcomes to guide clinical decisions.",

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AB - P-values have traditionally guided clinical research, but over-reliance on them can lead to misinterpretation and poor decision-making. This article highlights common misconceptions about P-values and suggests incorporating the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) along with other metrics such as effect sizes and Bayesian methods. Evidence-based practice is essential in anaesthesiology, and research findings should be evaluated in the context of patient outcomes to guide clinical decisions.

KW - P-value

KW - clinical relevance

KW - confidence interval

KW - machine learning

KW - minimum clinically important difference

KW - second-generation P-value

KW - statistical significance

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IS - 4

ER -

The misunderstood P-value: why statistical significance is not enough in clinical practice

Abstract

Keywords

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