Important statistical points to improve and promote the methodology of the articles on medical: a systematic review article for authors and reviewers

Methodological quality of scientific, research articles is accounted as one of the most important subjects for researchers. This study aimed to offer statistical points to improve and promote the methodology of the articles on medical sciences to help authors and reviewers. This study is a systematic review. At first, in Pub Med database, keys terms of statistical reports, research methodology and results reporting were selected. Then, texts relevant to medical sciences were sought in authentic databases. Inclusion criteria to the study were the relationship among articles, the statement of statistically key points, having useful guidelines, and agreement of two of three investigators in team. More than 200 articles were retrieved. After examination, 32 articles had the inclusion criteria and were relevant. 30 important points had indicator role for improvement and promotion of methodological quality in articles on medical sciences. These points are: identification and description of population, sampling, study design, independent, dependent, and controlling variables, samples for subgroups and for whole study, summarizing data adjusted to their statistical distribution, stating statistical tests, reporting (prevalence and survival rate), distribution (probability, risk rate), risk (absolutely, relative risk, risk differences with confidence of 0.95%), analyzing observations in terms of sex and used software. The most important factors that they had a main role in Methodological quality of scientific, research articles were reported. Use of introduced key points and checklists in articles’ materials and methods section could improve and promote the quality of articles in medical sciences fields and prevents research errors.