SPEAKER: Professor Nicholas Graves, AusHSI Queensland University of Technology

TITLE: Arbitrary levels of confidence in the results of clinical trials could be a massive waste of research dollars

TIME: Talk at 4:30pm, with Pizza following the talk, Tuesday 23 October 2018

COST: Free

VENUE: Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point, Z Block, The Gibson Room 1064

ABSTRACT:
Clinical trials might be larger than they need to be because arbitrary high levels of statistical confidence are sought in the results. Traditional sample size calculations ignore the marginal value of the information collected for decision making. We used data from a recent clinical trial powered with traditional rules of statistical significance. The data were also used for an economic analysis to show the intervention led to cost savings and improved health outcomes. Adoption represented a good investment for decision-makers. We examined the effect of reducing the trial’s sample size on the results of the statistical hypothesis-testing analysis and also on the conclusions that would be drawn by decision-makers based on economic analysis. As the sample size reduced it became more likely that the null hypothesis of no difference in the primary outcome between groups would fail to be rejected. For decision-makers reading the economic analysis, reducing the sample size had little effect on the conclusion about whether to adopt the intervention. If the goal is to make a good decision about whether an intervention should be adopted, that could have been achieved with a much smaller trial.

Flyer attached

This short course is a one-day statistics refresher for people who have had some practical experience with statistics or some undergraduate statistics training. We will discuss simple study designs and some common mistakes, with practical exercises throughout the day. The course does not use software (e.g. SPSS) as it will focus on the choice of what statistics to use and interpretation of the output, rather than on the practicalities of running analyses.
Target audience:
Healthcare professionals (all levels of experience and background are welcome), policy makers, academics and students.

Registrations are now open https://qutconferences.eventsair.com/aushsi-short-courses-2018/registration/Site/Register

Course Outline
The course will cover the following topics:
• sample size
• statistical significance (p<0.05) and confidence intervals
• non-parametric versus parametric tests
• the Normal assumption
• the basics of causal diagrams
• randomised controlled trials
• intention-to-treat
• pre-post designs (before and after studies)

Instructor:
Professor Adrian Barnett, QUT

Full details in the attached flyer

AusHSI, in collaboration with Flinders University, the University of Adelaide, Qld Health Metro North HHS and the SA Academic Health Science and Translation Centre will run a 3 day Knowledge Translation Course, 26 – 28 November 2018, at Flinders University, Adelaide SA.

About the course

Have you ever tried to get a new guideline or piece of evidence into your everyday practice, and been surprised by how long it took and how complex it was? Did you struggle to measure the project’s success?

This workshop covers three-days of highly interactive and outcome focused content that covers the essential skills and knowledge needed to facilitate the implementation of evidence and innovation into everyday practice.

Date: 26-28 November 2018
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Venue: Flinders University at Tonsley

Full details can be found in the KT Flyer Nov dates

Cost for 3 days (course only)

Standard rate: $1,800
Student rate: $995

Registration link https://pay.flinders.edu.au/NHS027