practice worksheet E
preiou5
practice_wse.docxPRACTICE WORKSHEET E: CLINCIAL AND STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE
1. (2.5 POINTS) In the study by Calderini et al. Adjunctive effect of chlorhexidine antiseptics in mechanical periodontal treatment: first results of a preliminary case series. International Journal of Dental Hygiene, Article first published online: 6 DEC 2012 DOI: 10.1111/idh.12009, the authors aimed to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effects of a single session of mechanical and manual scaling and root planing (SRP) combined with the use of two different chlorhexidine formulations in the treatment for generalized chronic periodontitis.
At the beginning of the study the median periodontal probing depth for patients in the control group was 5.78mm. After six weeks of treatment the median periodontal probing depth was 3.74mm. Analysis showed that this was a statistically significant decrease in probing depth (p = 0.005). Do you think this is a clinical significant result? Please explain your answer.
2. (2.5 POINTS) In the study by Oliveira de Campos et al. Effectiveness of nonsurgical treatment to reduce IL-18 levels in the gingival crevicular fluid of patients with periodontal disease. Brazilian Dental Journal. 2012, the authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of non-surgical periodontal treatment in reducing gingival crevicular fluid levels of IL-18 from inflamed periodontal sites. As part of the study the plaque index (PI) was measured. Table 2 from the study is shown. The reduction in PI was shown to be statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Is the reduction in PI clinically significant? Please explain your answer.
