Chinese Medical Sciences Journal ›› 2015, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (2): 121-130.doi: 10.1016/S1001-9294(15)30023-7
Confounding Effect in Clinical Research of Otolaryngology and Its Control
Yong-qiang Yu1, *, Dong-yan Huang2, Susan Armijo Olivo3, Huai-an Yang4, Yagesh Bambanini5, Lyn Sonnenberg6, Brenda Clark6, Gabriela Constantinescu7, Jason Qian Yu8, Ming Zhang1, 9, 10
- 1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada;
3Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada;
5Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada;
2Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Clinical Division of Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China;
4Department of Otolaryngology, the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China;
6Department of Developmental Pediatrics, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB T5G 0B7, Canada;
9Department of Audiology, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB T5G 0B7, Canada;
7Institute for Reconstructive Science in Medicine, Edmonton, AB T5R 4H5, Canada;
8Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R6, Canada;
10Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
Confounding Effect in Clinical Research of Otolaryngology and Its Control
Yong-qiang Yu1, *, Dong-yan Huang2, Susan Armijo Olivo3, Huai-an Yang4, Yagesh Bambanini5, Lyn Sonnenberg6, Brenda Clark6, Gabriela Constantinescu7, Jason Qian Yu8, Ming Zhang1, 9, 10
- 1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada;
3Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada;
5Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G4, Canada;
2Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Clinical Division of Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China;
4Department of Otolaryngology, the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China;
6Department of Developmental Pediatrics, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB T5G 0B7, Canada;
9Department of Audiology, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB T5G 0B7, Canada;
7Institute for Reconstructive Science in Medicine, Edmonton, AB T5R 4H5, Canada;
8Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R6, Canada;
10Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
摘要：
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.
