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Michael Bigby, MD

Arch Dermatol. 2000;136:386-387.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The confidence interval is a powerful tool for evaluating evidence that aids in making decisions about the care of individual patients. In this brief report, I will define the confidence interval and describe its usefulness in the care of individual patients.

The results of more than 230 000 controlled trials have been published in the medical literature, many of which involve the treatment of diseases relevant to the practice of dermatology. One of the problems facing practicing dermatologists is to figure out whether the results of controlled trials are valid and useful in making decisions about the care of their patients. The magnitude of the treatment effect and its precision are important concepts that must be understood to determine whether the results of a study are valid and useful. In evaluating a clinical trial, look for clinical outcome measures that are clear cut and clinically meaningful to . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Boston, Mass