• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.866-878
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• 2023

Statistical analysis is an essential component of the medical writing process for research-related articles. Although the importance of statistical testing is emphasized, statistical mistakes continue to appear in journal articles. Major statistical mistakes can occur in any of the three different stages of medical writing, including in the design stage, analysis stage, and interpretation stage. In the design stage, mistakes occur if there is a lack of specificity regarding the research hypothesis or data collection and analysis plans. Discrepancies in the analysis stage occur if the purpose of the study and characteristics of the data are not sufficiently considered, or when an inappropriate analytic procedure is followed. After performing the analysis, the results are interpreted, and an article is written. Statistical analysis mistakes can occur if the underlying methods are incorrectly written or if the results are misinterpreted. In this paper, we describe the statistical mistakes that commonly occur in medical research-related articles and provide advice with the aim to help readers reduce, resolve, and avoid these mistakes in the future.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 1999

The aims of this report are to classify the incorrect data of patients and the errors of dose and dose distribution observed in QA activities on teleradiotherapy chart, and to analyze their frequency. In our department, radiation physicists check several sheets of patient chart to reduce numeric errors before starting radiation therapy and at least once a week, which include history, port diagram, MU calculation or treatment planning summary and daily treatment sheet. The observed errors are classified as followings. 1) Identity of patient, 2) Omitted or unrecorded history sheet even though not including the item related to dose, 3) Omission of port diagram, or omitted or erroneous data, 4) Erroneous calculation of MU and point dose, and important causes, 5) Loss of summary sheet of treatment planning, and erroneous data of patient in the sheet, 6) Erroneous record of radiation therapy, and errors of daily dose, port setup, MU and accumulated dose in the daily treatment sheet, 7) Errors leading inexact dose or dose distribution, errors not administerd even though its possibility, and simply recorded errors, 8) Omission of sign. Number of errors was counted rather than the number of patients. In radiotherapy chart QA from Jun 17, 1996 to Jul 31, 1999, no error of patient identity had been observed. 431 Errors in 399 patient charts had been observed and there were 405 physical errors, 9 cases of omitted or unrecorded history sheet, and 17 unsigned. There were 23 cases (5.7%) of omitted port diagram, 21 cases (5.2%) of omitted data and 73 cases (18.0 %) of erroneous data in port diagram, 13 cases (3.2 %) treated without MU calculation, 68 cases (16.3 %) of erroneous MU, 8 cases (2.0%) of erroneous point dose, 1 case (0.2 %) of omitted treatment planning summary, 11 cases (2.7%) of erroneous input of patient data, 13 cases (3.2%) of uncorrected record of treatment, 20 cases (4.9%) of discordant daily doses in MU calculation sheet and daily treatment sheet, 33 cases (8.1%) of erroneous setup, 52 cases (12.8%) of MU setting error, 61 cases (15.1%) of erroneous accumulated dose. Cases of error leading inexact dose or dose distribution were 239 (59.0 %), cases of error not administered even though its possibility were 142 (35.1 %), and cases of simply recorded error were 24 (5.9 %). The numeric errors observed in radiotherapy chart ranged over various items. Because errors observed can actually contribute to erroneous dose or dose distribution, or have the possibility to lead such errors, thorough QA activity in physical aspects of radiotherapy charts is required.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.259-264
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• 2017

Birth weight of a new born baby provides very important information in evaluating many clinical issues such as fetal growth restriction. This paper analyzes birth weight data of babies born in Korea from 2011 to 2013, and it shows that there is a biologically implausible distribution of birth weights in the data. This implies that some errors may be generated in the data collection process. In particular, this paper analyzes the relationship between gestational period and birth weight, and it is shown that the birth weight data mostly of gestational periods from 28 to 32 weeks have noticeable errors. Therefore, this paper employs the finite Gaussian mixture model to classify the collected data points into two classes: non-corrupted and corrupted. After the classification the paper removes data points that have been predicted to be corrupted. This adjustment scheme provides more natural and medically plausible percentile values of birth weights for all the gestational periods.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2000

의학적 진단에서 검사결과가 연속형으로 측정되는 예는 매우 많다. 예를 들어 ELISA검사, 혈청화학적 검사, 방사선 검사 (이 경우에는 음성, 의양성, 양성등의 척도로 표현될 수 있음) 등에서는 적절한 기준을 설정한 후 이 기준점을 근거로 양성과 음성으로 판정하게 된다. 여기에서 한 가지 문제는 기준점 설정에 있다. 소위 정상 혹은 참고범위 (normal or reference range)가 분명히 있는 경우라고 실제 판정에 있어서는 질별이 없음에도 불구하고 검사결과 질병이 있는 것으로 판정할 오류 (혹은 그 반대)가 분명히 존재한다. 본 논문에서는 이러한 상황에서 접근할 수 있는 한가지 방법인 ROC 곡선에 대하여 설명하고자 한다.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2017

Purpose Westgard multi-rules application based on test quality improvement and commercialized international standard has been widely used in quality control. However, it is difficult to applicate the Westgard multi-rules in nuclear medicine in vitro tests due to the larger sample sizes and the simultaneous measurement of quality control material and patient sample. This study investigated the usefulness of Westgard multi-rules application in nuclear medicine in vitro tests. Materials and Methods A total of 282 systematic error multi-rules (22s, 101s) recorded in the samsung medical center computer system from January 2013 to June 2016 along with 117 cases of corrective measure record was analyzed. The Quality control implementation is recorded in Hospital information system were divided into 4 high-level areas including quality control material error, experimental procedural error, Kit lot number management error, and others. To prevent quality control material error, the existing method that each staff used their own method was changed. The staff who in charge of managing the quality control material was designated and daily consumption amount of every test was strictly controlled by one person. To prevent other errors, every test step was standardized so that the entire test procedures are identically implemented. Results The total quality control implementation was 117 cases; As a result, 62 quality control material errors were 62 cases, experimental process errors were 24 cases, Kit lot number control errors were 18 cases, and other errors were 13 cases. The quality control material error was corrected and could be used fresh materials within 2 days after thawing. The cases of systemic error were decreased to causes as quality control material error. The quality control materials were reduced above 10 vials to a monthly average. In addition, these errors of experimental processing and Kit lot number were improved by test standardization. Consequently, the cases of 101s and 22s in systematic error rules decreased at least 2 cases to a monthly average. Conclusion To confirm of systematic error through multi-rules application quickly, it is necessary to base on management of the QC material, target values and standard deviation. Moreover, in the event of a systematic error, it was found important to record measures based on test cause analysis. The experiment results are expected to contribute to internal quality control improvement and prompt and accurate result reporting through error recording and causal analysis based on Westgard multi-rules analysis.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2024

This study investigated acoustic features in spectral moment analysis, comparing accurate articulations with distortions of alveolar fricatives such as dentalization, palatalization, and lateralization. A retrospective analysis was conducted on speech samples from 61 children (mean age: 5.6±1.5 years, 19 females, 42 males) using the Assessment of Phonology & Articulation for Children (APAC) and Urimal-test of Articulation and Phonology I (U-TAP I). Spectral moment analysis was applied to 169 speech samples. The results revealed that the center of gravity of accurate articulations was higher than that of palatalization, while palatalization was lower than dentalization. The variance of dentalization was higher than that of both accurate articulations and palatalization. The skewness of dentalization was higher than that of accurate articulations, and the skewness of palatalization was higher than that of accurate articulations. The kurtosis of palatalization was higher than that of both accurate articulations and dentalization. No significant differences were observed for the position of fricatives (initial, medial) and tense type (plain, tense) across all variables of spectral moment analysis for each distortion type. This study confirmed distinct patterns in center of gravity, variance, skewness, and kurtosis depending on the type of alveolar fricative distortion. The objective values provided in this study will serve as foundational data for diagnosing alveolar fricative distortions in children with speech sound disorders.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 1948

미국약품의 해설은 이미 Pamphlet, 혹은 의학잡지등에 소개되여서 이에 사족을 부칠 필요가 없으나 전자의 기재가 주로 의사를 대상으로 하여 사용법에 치중한 감이 있으므로 이번에는 각도를 달리하여 약제사의 입장에서 본 물리학적 화학적 상수를 주로한 해설을 하여보았다. 특히 Sulfonamide 제는 요즈음 위조품이 횡행하므로 감정법도 기재하였다. 그러나 워낙 둔재이고 천학비식한 자가 한일이라 두찬과 오류가 허다 할 것이다. 널리 양해하기를 바라는 바이다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.168-179
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• 2004

Background : The statistical analysis is an essential procedure ensuring that the results of researches are based on evidences rather than opinion. The purpose of this study is to evaluate which statistical techniques are used and whether these statistical methods are used appropriately or not in the journal of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. Materials and Methods : We reviewed 185 articles reported in the journal of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases in 1999. We evaluated the validity of used statistical methods based upon the checklist that was developed on the basis of the guideline for statistical reporting in articles for medical journals by International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Results : Among 185 articles, original articles and case reports were 110 (59.5%) and 61 (33.0%) respectively. In 112 articles excluding case reports and reviews, statistical techniques were used in 107 articles (95.5%). In 94 articles (83.9%) descriptive and inferential methods were used, while in 13 (11.6%) articles only descriptive methods were used. With the types of inferential statistical techniques, comparison of means was most commonly used (64/94, 68.1%), followed by contingency table (43/94, 45.7%) and correlation or regression (18/94, 19.1%). Among the articles in which descriptive methods were used, 83.2% (89/107) showed inappropriate central tendency and dispersion. In the articles in which inferential methods were used, improper methods were applied in 88.8% (79/89) and the most frequent misuse of statistical methods was inappropriate use of parametric methods (35/89, 39.3%). Only 14 articles (13.1%) were satisfactory in utilization of statistical methodology. Conclusion : Most of the statistical errors found in the journal were misuses of statistical methods related to basic statistics. This study suggests that researchers should be more careful when they describe and apply statistical methods and more extensive statistical refereeing system would be needed.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.375-381
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• 2015

Digital Radiography is a big part of diagnostic radiology. Because uncorrected digital radiography image supported false effect of Patient's health care. We must be manage the correct digital radiography image. Thus, the artifact images can have effect to make a wrong diagnosis. We report types of occurrence by analyzing the artifacts that occurs in digital radiography system. We had collected the artifacts occurred in digital radiography system of general hospital from 2007 to 2014. The collected data had analyzed and then had categorize as the occurred causes. The artifacts could be categorized by hardware artifacts, software artifacts, operating errors, system artifacts, and others. Hardware artifact from a Ghost artifact that is caused by lag effect occurred most frequently. The others cases are the artifacts caused by RF noise and foreign body in equipments. Software artifacts are many different types of reasons. The uncorrected processing artifacts and the image processing error artifacts occurred most frequently. Exposure data recognize (EDR) error artifacts, the processing error of commissural line, and etc., the software artifacts were caused by various reasons. Operating artifacts were caused when the user didn't have the full understanding of the digital medical image system. System artifacts had appeared the error due to DICOM header information and the compression algorithm. The obvious artifacts should be re-examined, and it could result in increasing the exposure dose of the patient. The unclear artifact leads to a wrong diagnosis and added examination. The ability to correctly determine artifact are required. We have to reduce the artifact occurrences by understanding its characteristic and providing sustainable education as well as the maintenance of the equipments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.351-364
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• 2020

Missed lung cancers on chest radiograph (CXR) may delay the diagnosis and affect the prognosis. CXR is the primary imaging modality to evaluate the lungs and mediastinum in daily practice. The purpose of this article is to review chest radiographs for common blind spots and highlight the importance of various radiologic presentations in primary lung cancer to avoid significant diagnostic errors on CXR.