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If we subtract k=3 (the number of groups) by the number of participants, N, we will get
df = 255 – 3 = 252
The error df will be then
err = k – 1 = 3 – 1 = 2
The F value was obtained to be 38.1 and the p value was obtained to be < 0.0001. Such result shows that the difference between groups is significantly big.
The post hoc analysis gives p=0.85. This value exceeds the limit alpha level. That means that there is no difference between means and the result is statistically significant. As for me, that was pretty expected, since all hospital facilities should have some standards, which leads to similar care.
Main assumptions for the ANOVA test are:
- Each group sample corresponds to a normal distribution.
- The variance is the same for each population
- All samples observations are independent
- Factors effects considered to have additive influence
- All samples are independent
This results corresponds to the Symptom management and shows that one of the groups significantly differs from others. That means that some group had either a better or a worse symptom management comparing to others.
If there was a t-test used, the result would be inappropriate, since we are dealing with a multiple groups comparison. T-tests can be applied for comparing two means only. Therefore we should perform several t-tests, which would lead to increasing the probability of a Type I error and the results would be not significant.
There was performed a Tukey’s HSD test. A Scheffe test is known to be more conservative than a Tukey’s HSD test. A Scheffe test may hide the detection of real differences.
The null hypothesis: The care is equal across all three groups. This hypothesis should be rejected, since the F-value is 35.9 and the p-value is <0.0001.
The result showed that the highest care has the Hospice. Also it was shown that the Hospital with LCP appeared to have a higher result than without LCP.
As for me, these results (Table 2 and Table 3) that show that Hospice has a higher life care score for several parameters, means that it has indeed a better service. However, some parameters scored a lower score comparing to other facilities. But in general, we can conclude that Hospice is a better place to provide an end of life care. We must note that this test was made in UK. Our US results might be significantly different.
