Confounding Effect in Clinical Research of Otolaryngology and Its Control.
- Author:
Yong-qiang YU
1
;
Dong-yan HUANG
2
;
Susan Armijo OLIVO
3
;
Huai-an YANG
4
;
Yagesh BAMBANINI
5
;
Lyn SONNENBERG
6
;
Brenda CLARK
6
;
Gabriela CONSTANTINESCU
7
;
Jason Qian YU
8
;
Ming ZHANG
9
;
Author Information
1. Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada.
2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Clinical Division of Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China.
3. Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada.
4. Department of Otolaryngology, the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
5. Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada.
6. Department of Developmental Pediatrics, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB T5G 0B7, Canada.
7. Institute for Reconstructive Science in Medicine, Edmonton, AB T5R 4H5, Canada.
8. Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R6, Canada.
9. Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Bias;
Humans;
Otolaryngology;
Regression Analysis;
Research Design;
Statistics as Topic
- From:
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal
2015;30(2):121-130
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Confounding effect is a critical issue in clinical research of otolaryngology because it can distort the research's conclusion. In this review, we introduce the definition of confounding effect, the methods of verifying and controlling the effect. Confounding effect can be prevented by research's design, and adjusted by data analysis. Clinicians would be aware and cautious about confounding effect in their research. They would be able to set up a research's design in which appropriate methods have been applied to prevent this effect.They would know how to adjust confounding effect after data collection. It is important to remember that sometimes it is impossible to eliminate confounding effect completely, and statistical method is not a master key. Solid research knowledge and critical thinking of our brain are the most important in controlling confounding effect.