ABSTRACT
A survey of the statistical methods used by authors of the 760 research and review articles in Volumes 298 through 301 (1978–9) and the 115 Original Articles in Volume 321 (1989) of the New England Journal of Medicine reveals varied uses of statistics. A reader who is conversant with some simple descriptive statistics (percentages, means, and standard deviations) has full statistical access to 58 percent of the articles. Understanding t-tests increases this access to 67 percent The addition of contingency tables gives complete statistical access to 73 percent of the articles. Familiarity with each additional statistical method gradually increases the percentage of accessible articles.
Original Articles use statistical techniques more extensively than other articles in the Journal, and those in Volume 321 (1989) make greater use of statistical methods than did articles appearing a decade earlier.
Research studies based on a longitudinal design make heavier use of statistics than do those using a cross-sectional design. The tabulations in this study should aid clinicians and medical investigators who are planning their continuing education in statistical methods and faculty who design or teach courses in quantitative methods for medical and health professionals.
