Significance at a Glance:A New Method for Presenting Multiple Results

摘要

In comparing many different results such as the levels of significance and changes from baseline to endpoint within treatment group as well as between groups, displaying a number of tables and figures with p values is sometimes useful. Presenting results in this manner, however, is not a user-friendly way to identify trends and patterns for complicated results. We, therefore, developed the NMatrix, a method of presentation using a simple matrix table that allows researchers to concisely summarize multiple differences and to simultaneously make multiple assessments. To demonstrate the usefulness of the NMatrix, the results of statistical analyses of QOL assessed by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire in Japanese patients with back pain were presented with the NMatrix, using data collected in two clinical studies. The result of our study suggests the usefulness of the NMatrix in concisely summarizing the results of statistical analyses, using multi-item instruments. In addition, some appropriate multiplicity adjustment should be made if necessary, when presenting some results of statistical analyses using the NMatrix.