Publication

Sample size matters: a guide for surgeons

Journal Paper/Review - May 1, 2005

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Gueller U, Oertli D. Sample size matters: a guide for surgeons. World J Surg 2005; 29:601-5.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
World J Surg 2005; 29
Publication Date
May 1, 2005
Issn Print
0364-2313
Pages
601-5
Brief description/objective

Considerations of sample size computations in the medical literature have gained increasing importance over the past decade and are now often mandatory for scientific grant proposals, protocols, and publications. However, many surgeons are ill-prepared to understand the parameters on which the appropriate sample size is based. The present article has several objectives: first, to review the need for sample size considerations; second, to explain the ingredients necessary for sample size computations in simple, nonmathematic language; third, to provide options for reducing the sample size if it seems impracticably large; and fourth, to help avoid some of the more common mistakes encountered when computing sample sizes.