Statistical and Clinical Significance
Effective implementation of an evidence-based practice (EBP) project is dependent on the correct interpretation of the research results. Some of the results are statistically significant, while others are clinically significant. Therefore, it is essential to distinguish between the statistical and clinical significance of research results to evaluate an EBP project successfully.
Clinical significance refers to the clinical observations made on a specific treatment’s effectiveness to enable a patient to recuperate and return to a healthy state. It is, therefore, a measure of the treatment effects on the patients under care. Clinically significant results arise when health experts consider them to be medically necessary. The results can then be used in real-world medical situations as a guide for healthcare providers. Clinical significance is different from statistical significance in that it is more objective (Sedgwick, 2014). For instance, clinically significant results may seek to evaluate whether a particular treatment managed to achieve the patient’s desired outcome. However, statistical significance is expressed as a variable that means that it is not certain whether a specific treatment will restore a patient’s health. Therefore, statistical significance as a parameter in the EBP project shows the extent of the reliability of research results (Sedgwick, 2014). The probability value (p-value) is used to illustrate this reliability; thus, the results are said to be statistically significant when the p-value is less than the expected certainty level.
The primary objective of an EBP project is to generate a positive medical outcome for the patients. Therefore, the integration of clinical significance in my project would significantly improve the desired medical outcome. This is because it will allow me to perform a clinical interpretation of the entire research process to enhance patient safety and improve health outcomes. Clinical significance is objective and, therefore, more focused on realizing the desired medical outcome for the patients. This will influence increased efficacy in decision making throughout my project. Also, evaluating the project based on clinical significance to qualify the internal and external validity will generate positive results.
