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Home > Statistics Every Writer Should Know > The Stats Board > Discusssion

stats per 1000 patient days
Message posted by Denise Regan on October 6, 1999 at 12:00 AM (ET)

I work in the health field and we report needle sticks and falls per 1000 patient days. Would this be reported as a % or a raw number? Thx


READERS RESPOND:
(In chronological order. Most recent at the bottom.)

Re: stats per 1000 patient days
Message posted by JG on October 6, 1999 at 12:00 AM (ET)

Since it is per 1000 patient days a % would be confusing. If you wish to compare data from different sources % might be the only way to go.


Re: stats per 1000 patient days
Message posted by Bill on October 6, 1999 at 12:00 AM (ET)

I think that the number of events is most appropriate. You seem to be describing an "incidence density." This refers to the frequency of new events per person-time. It is useful when the event of interest (e.g., falls) can occur in a person more than once during the period of study (e.g., 1000 patient days). See Jekel, JF, et al. Epidemiology, biostatistics, and preventive medicine. W. B. Saunders Press, 1996.



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