Public Domain Statistics (PDS) set-up program [software]

This is a mini-statistical package designed to implement Frequentist statistics but with an emphasis on explanation of results informed by a Bayesian perspective. It is more intuitive in terms of input and output than larger, commercial packages. It was initially written to accompany my textbook, Statistics with Common Sense, (by David Kault, Greenwood Press, 2003). It has a particular emphasis on the simple non-parametric tests and avoids errors which occur when larger commercial statistics packages use normal approximations. (However, it is not entirely error free when there are ties in such tests) As well it does other simple tests such as t-tests and one way ANOVA. It is small because it gives no graphical output

Fast versus slow bandaid removal: a randomised trial

Objective: To determine whether slow or fast bandaid removal is less painful. \ud \ud Design, setting and participants: A prospective, randomised, crossover trial was carried out at James Cook University, Townsville. Participants were healthy volunteers\ud from Years 2 and 3 of the James Cook University medical school program.\ud \ud Interventions: Medium-sized bandaids were applied bilaterally in three standard body locations and removed using slow and fast techniques.\ud \ud Main outcome measures: Pain scores were assessed using an 11-point verbal numeric pain scale.\ud \ud Results: 65 participants were included in the study. The overall mean pain score for fast bandaid removal was 0.92 and for slow bandaid removal was 1.58. This represents a\ud highly significant difference of 0.66 (P < 0.001).\ud \ud Conclusion: In young healthy volunteers, fast bandaid removal caused less pain than slow bandaid removal