Measuring gait – how the choice of measure can affect the statistical results and the clinical interpretation
Engelsk titel: Measuring gait – how the choice of measure can affect the statistical results and the clinical interpretation
Läs online
Författare:
Bring, Johan
;
Bring, Annika
Email: annika.bring@neuro.uu.se
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 25
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 17040005
Sammanfattning
Aims: The aim of this study was to illustrate how the choice of gait measure could affect the statistical
analysis of data and the resulting clinical conclusions.
Methodology: A descriptive design in which the results from different tests from 10 patients with normal
pressure hydrocephalus illustrates the potential to generate different clinical conclusions.
Major findings and principal conclusion: The results illustrate how the choice of measure can affect
the statistical results and the clinical interpretation of a study. It is possible to have the paradoxical
situation in which one group has a better walking ability if the variable speed is used but the other
group has a better walking ability if the variable time is used. An important message is that the choice
of measurement and the transformation of data are not primarily statistical issues. If the statistical
results are to be useful for clinical decisions, the variables used must be directly related to the utility
for the subjects. An understanding of the clinical relevance of different outcomes is required. The distinction
between when numbers are purely descriptive and when numbers represent a valuation is
subtle and difficult to comprehend.