Common SPSS Procedures on Health and Medical Data Elizabeth Wiredu Edge Hill, Ormskirk, Lancashire

Aim Demonstrate how nurses, doctors, and health professionals, who have little or no direct access to statistician, can use SPSS confidently to convert their data into information for the advancement of research in health and medicine.

Effective Design is guided by: A Clear Research Question Selecting an appropriate Study Design Selecting the appropriate Statistics

Using a Case Study  The Aim – To examine the effect of legs ulcers on anxiety and depression in relation to quality of everyday life.  Design choices – Case Control study was selected to compare result result with National Statistics.  Perform analyses – Systematic selection of statistics to use

About the Data 190 leg ulcer patients (males =101 and females=89) were recruited by consent, in the Northwest - Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Methodology: Mixed Methods approach was used. Qualitative and Quantitative data were collected via questionnaire and interviews. This presentation focuses on the quantitative data analysis.

Age by gender Mean Age by gender was examined for any significant differences between male and female. Independent T-test was used to compare the mean age by gender in leg ulcer patients. Females (mean age = 70.17, SD=13.69) were significantly higher [ t(188)=12.57; p<0.01] than males( mean age=64.77, SD=15.03). Office for National Statistics[1](ONS) reports from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) that there are fewer adult men (44 per 1000) receiving drugs for anxiety and depression than women (101 per 1000) between Same study reveals mean age differences of men (36.2) and women (81.9) receiving treatment for depression and anxiety. Note: this is general not leg ulcers.[1] [1] Moser K, Majeed A (1999) Prevalence of treated chronic diseases in general practice in England and Wales – trends over time and variation by the ONS area classification. Health Statistics Quarterly 02, pp 25-32

Mobility and Anxiety Independent sample t-test was used to examine the different levels of anxiety between those who are mobile and those who are not. No significant difference in the levels of anxiety [t(188)=-1.246; p>0.05)] were found between the fully mobile (mean score= 6.05, SD=4.197) and the limited/immobile (mean score= 6.98, SD=4.653) groups.

Mobility and Depression Independent sample t-test was used to examine the different levels of anxiety between those who are mobile and those who are not. No significant difference in the levels of anxiety [t(188)=-2.905; p<0.05)] were found between the fully mobile (mean score= 4.93, SD=3.505) and the limited/immobile (mean score= 6.75, SD=4.064) groups.

Depression scores by gender Depression scores by gender were examined for any significant differences between male and female. Independent T-test was used to compare the mean anxiety scores by gender in leg ulcer patients. No significant difference [t(188)=-0.102; p>0.05] was found between Females(mean depression score = 5.38, SD=3.67) and males(mean depression score =5.33, SD=3.76).

Conclusion 1. I have use the case to go through the logical line of thinking 2. Highlighted the importance of aligning Research Question => Study Design => Inform the choice of Stats => for effective study outcome 3. I have demonstrated using the case study, how the use of SPSS helped to convert the data into information to advance research in health and medicine.