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HIGHLIGHTS: The purpose of any study is to determine the likelihood that you, if
you adopt this intervention, will have the same results. When the change in study results from
"before" to "after" is very small, the sample size must be large for a significant probability
of success. When the results show a large change, a small sample size confirms a high probability
that if you adopt the program, you will get similar results.
The sample size for statistical significance is normally 15 per group.
However, this data does in fact suggest a trend because (1) the same nurse did both groups'
discharge preparation during the same time period and (2) the difference between the "before"
and the "after" is so extreme. There may be a temptation to be distracted by what
may be an unusually high rate of returns to the ER. It must be noted that whatever
the problem was that caused the high rate of return, it was solved by Careguide.
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