Interpretation and use of statistics in nursing research

A working understanding of the major fundamentals of statistical analysis is required to incorporate the findings of empirical research into nursing practice. The primary focus of this article is to describe common statistical terms, present some common statistical tests, and explain the interpretation of results from inferential statistics in nursing research. An overview of major concepts in statistics, including the distinction between parametric and nonparametric statistics, different types of data, and the interpretation of statistical significance, is reviewed. Examples of some of the most common statistical techniques used in nursing research, such as the Student independent t test, analysis of variance, and regression, are also discussed. Nursing knowledge based on empirical research plays a fundamental role in the development of evidence-based nursing practice. The ability to interpret and use quantitative findings from nursing research is an essential skill for advanced practice nurses to ensure provision of the best care possible for our patients.