Using a quantitative research article from one of the previous topics, analyze the p-value. What is it? Is it statistically significant? If your p-value is not statistically significant, what is the clinical significance?
Statistical significance refers to the likelihood that the results of a study are not due to chance, while clinical significance refers to the practical importance of the results in terms of their impact on patient care. In other words, statistical significance is a measure of the strength of the evidence, while clinical significance is a measure of the relevance of the evidence to real-world situations.
Using a quantitative research article from one of the previous topics, analyze the p-value. What is it? Is it statistically significant? If your p-value is not statistically significant, what is the clinical significance? Generalizability of research depends on a variety of factors. List three factors of generalizability, and discuss whether this research article is generalizable to the nursing problem you are researching.
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Sample Expert Answer
As a researcher, it is crucial to understand the difference between statistical significance and clinical significance. Both of these measures have their own applications when interpreting the findings from a study. In the study by Wong and Choi (2023), the researchers wanted to find out whether immersive VR intervention significantly reduced pain and anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture. Usually, a p-value less than 0.05 would suggest a statistically significant difference, making the researchers reject the null hypothesis, while one that is higher would imply no significant difference in the variable interaction, making the researchers accept the null hypothesis (Holmberg, 2024).
In this study, the p-value for all the measures reported was below .04 against the stated o.05, which shows that there was a statistically significant reduction in both pain and anxiety among pediatric patients who received the immersive VR intervention compared to those who received standard care. The consistently low p-values provide strong evidence that the VR intervention was effective in reducing these outcomes (Wong & Choi, 2023). The study can be considered as clinically significant given the findings that show the efficacy of the proposed intervention in reducing pain among pediatric patients. Its applications are transformative in clinical practice, given their implication on pain reduction, comfort, and overall quality of care among pediatric patients.
There are several factors that determine research generalizability, one of the most critical being the sample size. A larger, more diverse sample enhances generalizability, as it represents a wider range of characteristics found in the target population (Kamper, 2020). Another factor is the sample selection methodology, where the more random a sample is, the more generalizable the research findings are as it reduces selection bias and ensures the sample is representative of the larger population. The third factor is external validity of the research; in this case, when the study’s conditions reflect real-world scenarios, they tend to generally have better external validity, thus resulting in more generalizable findings.
In the study by Wong and Choi (2023), one of the aspects that could make the research generalizable is the fact that it was a randomized controlled trial, with the randomization reducing the aspect of bias in selecting the sample. The sample size was also ideal, and given that my study is focused on pediatric patients, the sample appears to be adequate. However, the fact that it was conducted in a more controlled environment may limit its external validity, thus affecting its generalizability.
References
Holmberg, C. (2024). Toward a better understanding of statistical significance and p values in nursing. Nursing Forum, 2024(1), 7263781. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/7263781
Kamper S. J. (2020). Generalizability: Linking Evidence to Practice. The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 50(1), 45–46. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2020.0701
Wong, C. L., & Choi, K. C. (2023). Effects of an immersive virtual reality intervention on pain and anxiety among pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 6(2), e230001. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.0001
Sample Peer Response
Hello Linda,
In nursing research, distinguishing between statistical significance and clinical significance is essential for understanding the practical implications of study findings. Statistical significance, determined by the p-value, confirms whether a result is likely due to chance, but clinical significance assesses the real-world impact of the intervention on patient outcomes (AbdulRaheem, 2024).
The study you selected, from the p-values you shared, demonstrated both statistical significance and clinical significance by showing a 23% reduction in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), leading to improved patient safety and reduced healthcare costs. Therefore, both statistical and clinical significance are useful in different regards when it comes to interpreting research results. The generalizability of this intervention is strong, as it was conducted in a large, diverse hospital setting and can be applied to other similar healthcare environments.
Reference
AbdulRaheem, Y. (2024). Statistical significance versus clinical relevance: Key considerations in interpretation medical research data. Indian Journal of Community Medicine: Official Publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, 49(6), 791. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_601_2
