🧠 Misinterpretation [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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===== 🧠 Misinterpretation =====

**Misinterpretation** refers to the incorrect or misleading explanation of data, results, or outcomes, often due to overstatement, omission of context, or failure to consider alternative explanations.

==== ⚠️ Key Characteristics ====
  * Drawing **causal conclusions** from **correlational** or **observational** data  
  * Ignoring confidence intervals, effect sizes, or limitations  
  * Highlighting statistically significant findings without clinical relevance  
  * Downplaying adverse results or inconsistencies  

==== 🧪 Example in Neurosurgical Literature ====
  * A study finds that functional outcomes at 6 months are “similar” between microsurgical and endovascular groups but **fails to emphasize the significant early morbidity** in the surgical cohort, misleading readers into thinking both approaches are equally safe.

==== 📉 Why It Matters ====
  * Leads to **inappropriate clinical decisions**  
  * Misinforms guidelines, policy, and patient counseling  
  * Perpetuates biased or distorted scientific narratives  
  * Erodes trust in evidence-based medicine  

==== ✅ Best Practice ====
  * Interpret results **within the limits** of the study design  
  * Present **absolute and relative risks** with context  
  * Discuss alternative interpretations and confounding factors  
  * Avoid overstating conclusions beyond the data