Media Relations
Press Release:
MEDIA CONTACT: Gisele Galoustian
561-297-2676, ggaloust@fau.edu
FAU Professor Publishes Commentary
for Clinicians on Unique Contributions of Different Types
of Evidence to Research Conclusions
Commentary published in The
Journal of the American Medical Association
BOCA RATON, FL (March 18, 2011)
—
Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., DrPH, the first Sir Richard Doll
Research Professor of Medicine in the Charles E. Schmidt College of
Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, has published a commentary
for clinicians in this week’s issue of
The Journal of
the American Medical Association (JAMA). In the commentary
titled “Statistical Association and Causation: Contributions
of Different Types of Evidence,” Hennekens describes the
unique contributions, as well as strengths and limitations, of
different types of evidence to research conclusions. According to
Science
Watch, Hennekens was the 3rd most widely cited medical
researcher in the world from 1995-2005, and five of the top 20 were
his former trainees and/or fellows.
Hennekens explains
how each type of evidence contributes to a different piece of the
puzzle and cautions against over interpretation of studies not
designed in advance to test a particular research question. He
further explains which type of evidence can be used to conclude
whether there is a valid statistical association, as well as how to
rely on the totality of evidence to judge causality. Hennekens also
emphasizes that when the totality of evidence is sufficient, health
care providers can make the most rational decisions for individual
patients, and policy makers can make the most rational decisions
for the health of the general public.
Hennekens’
commentary can be found in the current online version of JAMA at
http://www.jama.com
.
– FAU –
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University , established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. In commemoration of its origin, FAU is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2011. Today, the University serves more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses and sites. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges : the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science . FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.
