Objective To assess the frequency and the proportion of correct use of statistical analytic methods in five Chinese otorhinolaryngological journals from 2000 to 2002. Methods The statistical methods used in all original articles (n=1 331) published in these journals in three years were evaluated. Results Only 52.0 % of the articles were used statistical analytic methods. And the frequency was higher in basic research (63.5%) than that in clinical research (48.7%) (P＜0.01). The proportions of correct use of statistical analytic methods in the five journals varied from 48.7% to 72.7%, with an average rate of 56.5%. The most frequently used statistical methods were t tests (37.9%), contingency tables (chi-square test) (28.2%) and ANOVAs (14.3%). The most common errors were on the presentation of P values without specifying the test used, using t tests instead of ANOVAs in the comparison among three and more groups, and using unpaired t tests when paired tests were required. Conclusions The rate of application statistical analytic methods is rather high, but incorrect or inappropriate use remain a serious problem.
