Questions Statistical Tests

The data set smokers.rda contains the time to fracture healing (in weeks) of patients who presented with a tibial fracture (variable ‘Time’). Smokers and non-smokers are indicated in the variable ‘Group’ (nominal data).

smokers
   Patient      Group Time
1        1     Smoker   10
2        2     Smoker   11
3        3     Smoker   11
4        4     Smoker   12
5        5     Smoker   15
6        6     Smoker   17
7        7     Smoker   17
8        8     Smoker   18
9        9     Smoker   18
10      10     Smoker   19
11      11     Smoker   22
12      12     Smoker   24
13      13 Non Smoker   10
14      14 Non Smoker   10
15      15 Non Smoker   11
16      16 Non Smoker   12
17      17 Non Smoker   15
18      18 Non Smoker   15
19      19 Non Smoker   16
20      20 Non Smoker   17

  1. Using the sign test and <=16 weeks as ‘cut off’ point; is fracture healing significantly delayed in patients who smoke (significant when p < 5%)?
  2. Using the Chi Square test and the same ‘cut off’ point’, is there a statistically significant difference? (significant when p < 5%). The Chi Square distribution table is shown below:
Degrees
of
Freedom
10%5%1%
12.713.846.63
24.615.999.21
36.257.8111.34
47.789.4913.28
59.2411.0715.09
1015.9918.3123.21
      1. Using the Wilcoxon test, is there a significant difference at p=5%?
      2. Would it be reasonable to use a t-test?
      3. Consider the above study as a pilot study for a larger study and estimate the sample size required to show a 10% difference. Assume Normality, a significance level of 5% and a power of 80%.

The value of radioisotope bone scanning in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma is being evaluated. 50 consecutive patients with suspected multiple myeloma and a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were identified. The ESR was consider high if is was more than 10 mm per hour. All 50 patients had a radioisotope bone scan. Ten patients had a positive bone scan, showing one or more areas of increased uptake of radioisotope. In 36 of the 50 patients the diagnosis of multiple myeloma was made following bone marrow aspiration. Six of these patients had a positive bone scan.

    1. Calculate the following parameters: True Positives, True Negatives, False Positives, False Negatives, Positive Predictive Value, Negative Predictive Vale, Sensitivity, Specificity, Accuracy
    1. On the basis of these parameters, is radioisotope bone scanning useful in making the diagnosis in patients with suspected multiple myeloma?