Una prospección al uso de métodos estadísticos en revistas de medicina veterinaria en Chile1986-1990

Published research plays an important role in veterinary education. Students and professional must be able to understand, evaluate and judge study design, analysis and interpretation of the results of scientific studies. A survey to describe the statistical methods used in the description and analysis of information, was conduced in articles published in chilean 3 veterinary medicine journals during 1986-1990. The design, errors and omission in the use of statistical methods was investigated. The results pointed out a frequent use of statistical methods, almost 72% of publications. The most used methods were analysis of variance, Student's 't' test, correlations and regression analysis. About 13% of publications had at least one error in usage of statistical methods. The most frequent errors were use of standard error of the mean as a description of data dispersion, and use of the 't' test when analysis of variance and multiple comparison of means was necessary. Because of the frequent use of statistical methods in veterinary literature, it was is concluded that veterinarians must have the necessary capacity and knowledge to be able to have access to this important aspect of scientific literature. Editorials boards of journals must ensure the quality of study, design and statistical methods, in order to improve the standards of their journals.