Measures of Emergency Department Crowding, Odds Ratios, and the Dangers of Making Continuous Data Categorical: Answers to January 2008 Journal Club Questions

Abstract

Editor’s note: These questions and answers refer to the Pines and Hollander paper on the effect of emergency department crowding on analgesia administration [Ann Emerg Med. 2008; 51:1-5]. Readers should recognize that these are suggested answers and, although it is hoped that they are correct, are by no means comprehensive. There are many other points that could be made about these questions or about the article in general. Questions are rated “novice,” ( ), “intermediate,” ( ), and “advanced” ( ). Readers should also note that Drs. Pines and Hollander shared their data set with us so that we could better illustrate some of the points we make in the answers and, when we found a few inconsequential blemishes in their data set, granted us permission to use these blemishes as teaching points. We acknowledge their generosity and note that the kinds of errors we detected are likely to be found in any large clinical data set.