WHO SAMPLE SIZE CALCULATOR FOR VALIDATION STUDIES IN RADIOLOGY : FEW OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

Abstract

Respected Sir, Through your journal we wish to draw the attention of CPSP towards an important issue that requires to be urgently addressed. The practice of synopsis and dissertation writing by CPSP as a prerequisite to FCPS degree is a commendable step. It introduces the residents to the art of research, which is so essential for future academic growth of an indivisual. However the recent introduction of WHO sample size calculater for calculating sample size, although an authentic method, is posing problems for majority of residents in particular radiology due to the following reasons:

In radiology newer techniques and machines are increasingly common and validation studies ragarding their sensitivity and specificity of a given modality/ technique form a significant portion of all radiology journals. Unfortunately with the recent introduction of sample size calculater it is becoming increasingly difficult to do these studies in radiology because of the large sample size that comes through WHO sample size calculater.