Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33323832›Full record

ArticleNursing research

Inclusion of Effect Size Measures and Clinical Relevance in Research Papers.

Sara L Davis, Ann H Johnson, Thuy Lynch, Laura Gray, Erica R Pryor, Andres Azuero, Heather C Soistmann, Shameka R Phillips, Marti Rice

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Nursing research. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

20 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  6. Trial
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  8. [Interpretation of effect measures in clinical research: A practical guide for the clinician].Revista medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social · 2026
    Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Observational
  12. AI-Powered Clinical Decision Support in Dentistry: Comparative Evaluation of Large Language Models for Oral Medicine and Periodontal Diagnosis.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026
    Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
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  19. Observational
  20. Relationships Among Stress, Diabetes Distress, and Biomarkers in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus from Diverse Income and Racial Backgrounds.Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Sara L Davis
Ann H Johnson
Thuy Lynch
Laura Gray
Erica R Pryor
Andres Azuero
Heather C Soistmann
Shameka R Phillips
Marti Rice

Funding

UAB Pre-Doctoral Training Program in Obesity-Related ResearchT32HL105349 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · PI BARBARA A GOWER · 2010 to 2026
$5.7M
NHLBI NIH HHS T32 HL105349
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere are multiple issues that arise when researchers focus on and only report "statistical significance" of study findings. An important element that is often not included in reports is a discussion of clinical relevance.

objectivesThe authors address issues related to significance, the use of effect sizes, confidence or credible intervals, and the inclusion of clinical relevance in reports of research findings.

methodsMeasures of magnitude, precision, and relevance such as effect sizes, confidence intervals (CIs), and clinically relevant effects are described in detail. In addition, recommendations for reporting and evaluating effect sizes and CIs are included. Example scenarios are presented to illustrate the interplay of statistical significance and clinical relevance.

resultsThere are several issues that may arise when significance is the focus of clinical research reporting. One issue is the lack of attention to nonsignificant findings in published works although findings show clinical relevance. Another issue is that significance is interpreted as clinical relevance. As well, clinically relevant results from small-sample studies are often not considered for publication, and thus, findings might not be available for meta-analysis. DISCUSSION: Findings in research reports should address effect sizes and clinical relevance and significance. Failure to publish clinically relevant effects and CIs may preclude the inclusion of clinically relevant studies in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, thereby limiting the advancement of evidence-based practice. Several accessible resources for researchers to generate, report, and evaluate measures of magnitude, precision, and relevance are included in this article.

Indexed as

Meta-Analysis as TopicSample SizeData Interpretation, StatisticalEvidence-Based NursingHumansNursing ResearchOutcome Assessment, Health Care

Identifiers

PMID33323832
PMCPMC8939369

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.