1. Content Guidelines

Your task for this project is to come up with analysis of the statistical techniques in the article, 'Evaluation of

Efficacy and Safety of Orlistat in Obese Patients.' This article is available through the following link:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3125014/

Your analysis will consist of the following sections.

First, give a brief (perhaps 2-3 sentences) description of the background of the article and the goals of

the author. You should include the effect of the drug and why this effect is desirable.

Then, you will give carefully organized multi-paragraph critical review of the statistical analysis of the

article. There are many tests performed in the article, but you will write your report on the following:

the test between the baseline and the 24-week measurement in the orlistat treated group from the this

paragraph:

"In orlistat-treated group, the mean weight at day 0 was 94.26

13.45 kg, which reduced to 92.67

8.71 kg, 89.61

7.39 kg and 89.01

7.39 kg at 8, 16 and 24 weeks, respectively [Table 1]. When values

of mean weight at 8, 16 and 24 weeks were compared with baseline it was found that the mean weight

at 16 and 24 weeks was significantly lesser (P

<

0.05) while at 8 weeks the difference was insignificant

(P

>

0.05). In placebo-treated group, mean weight at day 0 was 94.54

15.75 kg, it reduced to 93.05

9.56 kg, 92.81

6.88 kg and 92.04

6.39 kg at 8, 16 and 24 weeks respectively [Table 2]. When values

of mean weight at 8, 16 and 24 weeks were compared with baseline, it was found that the difference in

mean weight at 8, 16 and 24 weeks was statistically insignificant (P

>

0.05)."

and the the test for absolute reduction in weight from this paragraph:

"When orlistat and placebo group were compared for absolute reduction in weight (4.65 kg vs 2.5 kg;

orlistat vs placebo, respectively as observed in Figure 1), BMI (1.91 kg/m2 vs 0.64 kg/m2) and waist

circumference (4.84 cm vs 2 cm) at 24 weeks the difference was found to be statistically significant (P

<

0.05).

The analysis of these tests will be what you are graded on, so there is no need to read about any of

the other tests in the results section. You only need to write about the two specific tests, for example,

you do not need to write about the difference between the baseline and the 8 week measurement from

the first paragraph, or write about the BMI in the second paragraph. For each of the two tests, discuss

each of the following topics in a dedicated section:

-

Population and sample

. What are the population(s) of interest? How was the data gathered? Is

there any possibility of sampling bias?

-

Hypotheses.

What is the question the researchers are trying to answer? What are the statistical

hypotheses? Do the hypotheses address the the researchers' question?

-

Testing.

What type of test did the author use? Was this choice appropriate? What are the

population parameters that are being compared for the test?

1

Stat 301

Spring 2019

April 10, 2019

-

Reporting and Conclusions.

Was enough information about the data reported by the scientist for

the reader to draw their own conclusions? Was enough reported for the reader be able to check

the author's calculations? Did the conclusions help the author make a decision about the stated

hypotheses?

Note that some of these questions can be answered very briefly, while others require more extended

discussion. Be concise in your writing, you don't need to use space on introdutory or concluding

sentences. Your focus should be on aspects of the article that are related to the content of Stat 301.

2

Stat 301

Spring 2019

April 10, 2019