ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Due to lack of appropriate statistical knowledge, published research articles contain various errors related to the design, analysis and interpretation of results in the area of biomedical research. If research contains statistical error, however, costly, it may be of no use and the purpose of the investigation gets defeated. Many biomedical research articles published in different peer reviewed journals may retain several statistical errors and flaws in them. This study aimed to examine the trend and status of application of statistics in biomedical research articles. Study design, sample size estimation and statistical measures are crucial components of a study. These points were evaluated in published original research articles to understand the use or misuse of statistical tools. Methods: Three hundred original research articles from the latest issues of selected 37 journals were reviewed. These journals were from the five internationally recognized publication groups (CLINICAL KEY, BMJ Group, WILEY, CAMBRIDGE and OXFORD) accessible through the online library of SGPGI, Lucknow, India. Results: Among articles assessed under present investigation, 85.3 per cent (n=256) were observational, and 14.7 per cent (n=44) were interventional studies. In 93 per cent (n=279) of research articles, sample size estimation was not reproducible. The simple random sampling was encountered rarely in biomedical studies even though none of the articles was adjusted by design effect and, only five articles had used randomized test. The testing of assumption of normality was mentioned in only four studies before applying parametric tests. Interpretation & conclusions: In order to present biomedical research results with reliable and precise estimates based on data, the role of engaging statistical experts need to be appreciated. Journals must have standard rules for reporting study design, sample size and data analysis tools. Careful attention is needed while applying any statistical procedure as, it will not only help readers to trust in the published articles, but also rely on the inferences the published articles draw.
ABSTRACT
Background: AP (Acute Pancreatitis) in children is being more and more diagnosed across the world and developing nation like India. This may be because of multiple factors like better health sector developments, change in dietary and social lifestyle changes due to fast improving economy. There are lots of unknown factors also leading to increase in incidence of AP in children in developing nations like India.Methods: Five-year retrospective data of AP patients admitted Paediatric Gastroenterology department extracted. Data of 63 children collected in five years from 2012 to 2016. Anthropometric data, feeding details, liver function test (LFT) data recorded. Anthropometric data analysed with IAP growth charts. Data entered in excel sheet of window 10. Appropriate statistical data used for analysis of variables.Results: Majority of children of AP were 11-15 years age group. In 63 patients, 28 (44.4%) were undernourished, 23 (36.5%) having normal BMI, 9 (14.3%) were overweight and 3 (4.8%) were obese. Nasojejunal feeding was associated mostly in patients with severe AP. LFT were deranged mostly in cases of severe AP.Conclusions: Overweight, obese and also undernourished children were having more severe AP. Children on nasojejunal feeding (NJ) were mostly having severe AP.
ABSTRACT
Background: About 0.76 million neonates die every year in India, the highest for any country in the world. Globally antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) of the new born is being promoted as a strategy to reduce neonatal deaths. This paper examines the association of PNC and advice given to women about care of neonates with neonatal mortality in India.Methods: Used DLHS-4 data (2012-13), 319965 ever married women aged 15-49 years from 21 States/UTs of India were covered. Overall 89876 (96.46%) live births were reported from last pregnancy. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression were used to examine associations between exposure and outcome variables.Results: Almost 50% of mothers did not receive advices about neonate care. Children whose mothers did not advised for breastfeeding were 1.42 time more likely to die (CI= 1.16-1.75, p<0.001) than those who received this advice. Crude odds ratio for advice on keeping the neonate warm was 1.43 (CI=1.19-1.71, p<0.001), for advice on cleanliness was 1.55 (CI=1.25-1.93, p<0.001), for better nutrition for mother and child was 1.28 (CI=1.04-1.57, p=0.022). Neonates whose weight were not measured were 1.63 times (CI=0.94-1.67) more likely to die than those whose weight were measured, though this result was not statistically significant. The odds ratios were not much different when the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were adjusted in the model.Conclusions: Neonatal mortality was high among those who did not receive advices during ANC for new born care and PNC check-up for neonates. Though Government of India launched a number of interventions their implementation needs to be strengthened.