Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., DrPH, the first Sir Richard Doll Research Professor of Medicine in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, has published a commentary for clinicians in this week's issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In the commentary titled "Statistical Association and Causation: Contributions of Different Types of Evidence," Hennekens describes the unique contributions, as well as strengths and limitations, of different types of evidence to research conclusions. According to Science Watch, Hennekens was the 3rd most widely cited medical researcher in the world from 1995-2005, and five of the top 20 were his former trainees and/or fellows.
Hennekens explains how each type of evidence contributes to a different piece of the puzzle and cautions against over interpretation of studies not designed in advance to test a particular research question. He further explains which type of evidence can be used to conclude whether there is a valid statistical association, as well as how to rely on the totality of evidence to judge causality. Hennekens also emphasizes that when the totality of evidence is sufficient, health care providers can make the most rational decisions for individual patients, and policy makers can make the most rational decisions for the health of the general public.
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