is the difference statistically significant

Question 1

what is statistical inference

Answer 1

statiscial analysis of medical data to extrapolate findings from a sample to a wider population

Question 2

how is statistical inference applied to the wider population

Question 3

why does uncertainty matter

Answer 3

when we take a single sample and compare it to another sample there will be slight differences
sampling error

Question 4

theoretical distributions

Answer 4

shapes is described mathematically by its probability density function
location and dispersion given by the values of specific parameters of the pdf
probabilistic statements to be made about unobserved members of the population and future events

Question 5

what is a null hypothesis

Answer 5

there is no difference/treatment effect

Question 6

what is the alternative hypothesis

Answer 6

there is a difference/treatment effect

Question 7

what is p value and how is it used

Answer 7

probability of observed difference when the null hypothesis is true
smaller the p-value the more unlikely to null hypothesis
p value less than 0.05 is significantly different

Question 8

disadvantage of the p value

Answer 8

over reliance on arbritary cut off

Question 9

what are confidence intervals

Answer 9

used in addition to p values
relate to a corresponding hypothesis
presented as 95% CI
narrower the confence interval - the more precise the estimate so more certainty

Question 10

what is clinical significance

Answer 10

minimum difference/effect size which is of clinical importance
determined by clinicians
based on clinical experience and expertise