Interpreting P values in clinical research: A practical guide for clinicians
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: : Accurate interpretation of medical literature is essential for evidence-based clinical practice. Among statistical measures, the P value remains one of the most frequently used and most frequently misunderstood concepts in clinical research. Conventionally, a P < 0.05 was considered the primary criterion for determining statistical significance. However, reliance on this threshold alone may lead to overestimation of clinically unimportant findings or failure to recognize clinically meaningful effects in underpowered studies. Recent recommendations emphasize the importance of interpreting P values together with confidence intervals, effect sizes, and study design characteristics. This review discusses the basic principles of P values, common misconceptions, statistical errors, practices that threaten scientific validity, and complementary statistical approaches that can improve clinical interpretation. The aim is to provide clinicians and researchers with a practical framework for evaluating statistical findings in medical studies.
Author: Alp Şener
Language: English
Subfield: Statistics and Probability
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7221353403