Interpretation of Statistical Nonsignificance and Retrolental Fibroplasia
1 R.R. 2, Box 841, Westbrook, CT 06498
2 Department of Pediatrics, Columbia College of Physicians, & Surgeons; The Babies Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York
3 Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
4 School of Public Health, Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York
An important and well-documented Supplement to Pediatrics was published in April 1976 entitled "History of Oxygen Therapy and Retrolental Fibroplasia."1 It was prepared by the Committee on the Fetus and the Newborn, with the aid of several consultants, and was edited by L. Stanley James, M.D., and Jonathan T. Lanman, M.D.
Unfortunately, there is a misprint on page 612 that has caused serious confusion and misunderstanding. A key study by Lanman et al2 is misquoted as follows: "Mortality in the low oxygen group was somewhat higher than in the high oxygen group, but the difference was not statistically (p .03)."




