Making Statistics Relevant: An Introduction to the Uses and Misuses of Statistics in Health

Martin Raphan, Brooklyn College - C.U.N.Y.
Hershey Harry Friedman, Brooklyn College - CUNY

ABSTRACT
Probability and statistics can help people make good decisions, but can also be used to wreak havoc. This paper provides examples to students of how statistics can be used and misused to mislead the public and result in poor decision-making. We discuss the use of statistics in evaluating healthcare decisions, and how they can mislead patients. We describe evaluation criteria like number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH), which are important to a patient in deciding whether to undergo a medical procedure. We also describe how information about medications' effectiveness often focuses on the relative risk reduction (RRR), which can be misleading to consumers. This is particularly useful to those looking to introduce a discussion of framing and ethical issues into a statistics course.

(Return to Program Resources)

Updated 03/19/2014