Dealing powerfully with statistical power: A narrative review

Abstract

Evidence-based medicine demands that the research methodology should be robust, reliable, and reproducible. Statistical power is the probability of detecting an effect that really exists in a population. It is critical to incorporate power at the designing stage of a study. A sufficiently powered study ensures reliable results and avoids wastage of resources. It is essential for a clinician to be aware of the role and interpretation of statistical power while reading the research articles. We performed a medical literature database search in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Google, followed by abstract screening and then full paper study selection to gather the desired information and prepare this review on power. This review aims to provide the basic know-how about the practical aspects of statistical power for a clinician.