Editorial: It is interesting to ponder on the quote “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics”, which is often reported to have been said by American novelist Mark Twain, who in turn attributes it to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, although there is little evidence in print that Disraeli said it, which is somewhat ironic.
Whether Twain or Disraeli said it originally is perhaps not important, but the sentiments are still of value.
You will find in this issue many uses of statistics, which, depending on whether you view life’s cup as half full or half empty, will influence your opinion about the findings of any piece of research.
As with the old wives’ proverb “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”, which means that the real value of something can be judged only from practical experience or results and not from appearance or theory, so time will prove whether such statistical data are correct.
So, what does this mean for patients? Without context, many of those data provide a stark viewpoint, but adding the lived-experience of real people adds value and provides a richer view for those who need some form of affirmation that the research data makes sense.
You can help by providing your views and getting involved. Go to page 18 to see how you can contribute and provide the much-needed truth.
Managing editor
Contents
- Meet a researcher
- PsA gender differences
- Generalised pustular psoriasis
- The rise of health ignorance
- Media, stigma and the arts
- NHS waiting times
- Illegal medicine import crackdown
- Pso Pscience
- Get involved
- Quality and accuracy
- Marketplace
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