Evidence-Based Nursing Practice Guide

Making Sense of Statistics

• Different kinds of studies use different statistical methods. 
• Even if you hate statistics with a passion, knowing the statistical tests associated witheach study type can help you do a quick evaluation. 
• If a particular study uses an inappropriate statistical method, the results might not be valid.
• To read further might be a waste of time.  
• Unfortunately there are many synonyms for the different types of studies.

Finding and Using Health Statistics  

• Webinars offered by NICHSR
• Content how to find the health datasets you need.  .

EBM Tools and Calculators

• This is an extensive library of tools from MD Anderson Research Medical Library

Effect Size Calculator 

• Effect size (ES) is a name given to a family of indices that can measure  the magnitude of a treatment effects and more
• The Incidence Ratio is one kind of effect size measure.  
• There is more than one formula in use. 
• This site explains several. 
• The explanations imply a knowledge of statistics.

Number Needed to Treat Calculator 

This calculator answers the question-

How many people need to try a particular treatment  before one person's outcome will be positively affected. 

• This calculator  acknowledges that not every treatment is successful for everyone
• It can also help you roughly estimate the cost effectiveness of the treatment.
• The smaller number of people it takes to get a positive outcome, the more likely it is for the treatment to be adopted.
• Conversely , if a large number of people need to be treated before even one has a positive treatment response, and the treatment itself is expensive, it is unlikely that the treatment will  be adopted