1.Confounding Effect in Clinical Research of Otolaryngology and Its Control.
Yong-qiang YU ; Dong-yan HUANG ; Susan Armijo OLIVO ; Huai-an YANG ; Yagesh BAMBANINI ; Lyn SONNENBERG ; Brenda CLARK ; Gabriela CONSTANTINESCU ; Jason Qian YU ; Ming ZHANG ;
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2015;30(2):121-130
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.
Bias
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Humans
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Otolaryngology
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Regression Analysis
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Research Design
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Statistics as Topic
Result Analysis
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