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KMID : 0384320120330020089
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Korean Journal of Family Medicine
2012 Volume.33 No. 2 p.89 ~ p.93
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Misinterpreting Odds Ratio in the Articles Published in Korean Journal of Family Medicine
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Kim Ju-Heon
Kim Min-Young
Kim Soo-Young
Hwang In-Hong
Kang En-Jin
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Abstract
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Background: In reporting results of case-control studies, odds ratios are useful methods of reporting fi ndings. However, odds ratios are often misinterpreted in the literature and by general readers.
Methods: We searched all original articles which were published in the Korean Journal of Family Medicine from 1980 to May 2011 and identifi ed those that report "odds ratios." Misinterpretation of odds ratios as relative risks has been identifi ed. Estimated risk ratios were calculated when possible and compared with odds ratios.
Results: One hundred and twenty-eight articles using odds ratios were identifi ed. Among those, 122 articles were analyzed for the frequency of misinterpretation of odds ratios as relative risks. Twenty-two reports out of these 122 articles misinterpreted odds ratios as relative risks. Th e percentage of misinterpreting reports decreased over years. Seventy-seven reports were analyzed to compare the estimated risk ratios with odds ratios. In most of these articles, odds ratios were greater than estimated risk ratios, 60% of which had larger than 20% standardized diff erences.
Conclusion: In reports published in the Korean Journal of Family Medicine, odds ratios are frequently used. They were misinterpreted in part of the reports, although decreasing trends over years were observed.
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KEYWORD
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Odds Ratio, Relative Risk , Korean Journal of Family Medicine, Misinterpretation
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