Published online Mar 7, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i9.2867
Peer-review started: July 9, 2015
First decision: September 9, 2015
Revised: October 7, 2015
Accepted: December 14, 2015
Article in press: December 14, 2015
Published online: March 7, 2016
Processing time: 237 Days and 6.6 Hours
We report invalidating errors related to the statistical approach in the analysis and data inconsistencies in a published single cohort study of patients with Crohn’s disease. We provide corrected calculations from the available data and request that a corrected analysis be provided by the authors. These errors should be corrected.
Core tip: The modern scientific process depends on the collaboration among multiple investigators with complementary expertise. Gone are the days when a single investigator can typically be expected to have all the expertise necessary to produce a high quality article on any complex topic. One area of expertise that may be often taken for granted is that of the statistical design and analysis. The concerns raised about the paper in our letter highlight the value of having extensive and careful statistical input into the production of any empirical research paper.