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George W. Brown, MD

Am J Dis Child. 1985;139(4):410-416.

Abstract
• Fourfold (2x2) tables are used to describe enumeration data; they are concise and useful for summarizing many kinds of biomedical information. A familiar form is with two samples, each of which provides a two-valued outcome or observation, such as lived-died, normal-abnormal. These tables may be from research designs of several types: cross-sectional surveys, prospective models, retrospective models, and randomized clinical trials. Several methods of analysis of 2x2 tables are discussed, without the mathematical detail: ² test, critical ratio test, Fisher's exact test, and other less commonly used tests. The use of the relative risk ratio and the odds ratio to describe 2x2 tables is discussed. Some pitfalls in the use and interpretation of 2x2 tables are reviewed.

(AJDC 1985;139:410-416)

Author Affiliations
From Los Lunas (NM) Hospital and Training School; and the Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Los Lunas.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Los Lunas Hospital and Training School, PO Box 1269, Los Lunas, NM 87031 (Dr Brown).

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