Ferreira, Álida Rosária Silva

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Rev Col Bras Cir 47:e20202586DOI: 10.1590/0100-6991e-20202586Quality of search – sample sizeQualidade da pesquisa – tamanho amostral Álida RosÁRia silva FeRReiRa1The scientific production, among the various situations surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, has discussed the outcomes related to various clinical situations. The in-creased number of publications is a reality.  In a retrospective study, it was reported that four patients with previous unknown coronavirus, who had undergone elective surgery, had postoperative com-plications. The authors conclude that carrying out elective procedures, at the moment, maybe associated with incre-ased risks without any benefits1. The question that arises from a study like this is: what is its quality with such a small sample? Wouldn’t the interpretations be flawed? If these questions are not clear, the results can lead many professionals to take de-cisions based on unreliable studies.From a statistical point of view, the sample size is a fundamental methodological tenet, when the final objective of the study is to extrapolate the results from that sample to the entire population. A sample calcula-tion is, along with the randomization process and good data collection and processing, an important step to cer-tify the quality of a study and generalize its results2. However, in times of global crisis, more specific and quicker studies have been the routine. These can su-pport practices often adopted by the Healthcare System, but which need scientific background to support decision making. What needs to be clear to the healthcare pro-fessionals and administrators is that this type of study has many limitations. Therefore, such study needs to be care-fully assessed in order to avoid wrong decisions that will certainly have a huge impact on the population, whether if it is a patient who has/had the new virus, or one who is waiting for an operation. And for the latter, the opera-tion is a crucial therapy (such as in cancer) and may help improve his/her quality of life.1 - Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Minas Gerais – MG – Brazil.The statistician’s corner REFERENCES1. Aminian A, Safari S, Razeghian-Jahromi A, Ghorbani M, Delaney CP. COVID-19 outbreak and surgical practice: unexpected fatality in perioperative period. Ann Surg. 2020 Mar 26. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003925. 2. Farias AA, César CC, Soares JF. Introdução à Estatística. Rio de Janeiro: LTC; 2003.

Quality of search – sample size

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Quality of search – sample size

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