What are the Challenges in Determining Clinical Usefulness?
Several challenges can complicate the determination of clinical usefulness:
- Heterogeneity of Study Populations: Differences in study populations can affect the generalizability of results. - Confounding Factors: Uncontrolled variables can skew results, making it difficult to attribute outcomes directly to the intervention. - Publication Bias: Studies with negative results are less likely to be published, which can lead to an overestimation of an intervention's effectiveness. - Sample Size and Power: Studies with small sample sizes may lack the statistical power to detect meaningful differences, leading to inconclusive results.
