jh79 wrote: » Look what I found via your linkhttp://www.who.int/oral_health/publications/prevention-dental-caries-through-use-fluoride/en/ Can yu explain where WHO has gone wrong?
weisses wrote: » You have to ask Cochrane that question Did they include the WHO stance ..I honestly don't know
jh79 wrote: » Can you explain the bias that meant Cochrane felt it had to reject certain studies and how that bias doesn't apply to your data?
weisses wrote: » I think we need to distinguish between statistical data and studies. I don't know what studies they rejected ...What I do think to know is that they did not reject statistics ... just because they are statistics
weisses wrote: » Sorry but 97% of Europe doesn't fluoridate their water ... fact ...those 10 countries I mentioned don't fluoridate anything
weisses wrote: » I did account for that factor
weisses wrote: » Nope ... I mentioned a few
weisses wrote: » Use of fluoride tooth paste, Fluoridated salt, milk I think they count for some influence on both sides of the argument Fluoridated salt on the mainland vs fluoride toothpaste use in Ireland for example There are however many European countries that don't use the fluoridated salt and milk an there the statistics show a sharp decline in fillings as well So yes I think you can safely say Water fluoridation is not effective ( again Cochrane had issues with the effectiveness as well) It all comes together
weisses wrote: » Nope ... I dont know if they used that data just as much as you they didn't use itCochrane has access to all figures ... what they did with them I could not tell
weisses wrote: » You could use simple statistics to reach a conclusion yes .... You could use simple statistics to claim road safety in Ireland is worse then other countries ... You need research to find out why that is the case I don't know .... post them and we will see
King Mob wrote: » Yes, but as you have admitted, you don't know how much other methods of fluoridation effect your statistics. So you cannot use all of those countries to support your conclusion. Pretending that you can is simply dishonest.
King Mob wrote: » How? Please be specific. How can you have accounted for this when you have admitted that you don't know how big the effect is?
King Mob wrote: » You mention one. You do not mention anything else. Here is the post your linked. I'm not sure why you are trying to lie about this.http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=101640385&postcount=276 So again. What other factors would influence your statistics?
King Mob wrote: » So they have access to the same figures you have and they must have at least the same level of expertise in analysing data as you. So therefore they must reach the same conclusion you do. Again, why do you think they did not mention this at all? Do you think that they are hiding this conclusion cause they are part of a conspiracy? Do you think that you are just simply smarter than then and are better at statistics and data analysis than trained scientists and statisticians? Or could it be that your claims might be wrong?
King Mob wrote: » Why do you need research? You said that simple statistics is enough to reach a conclusion. Why do some statistics need research before you can reach a conclusion and others don't?.
King Mob wrote: » You are contradicting yourself as well as avoiding the very simple yes or no question I asked. This shows exactly how consistent and honest your logic is.
jh79 wrote: » The studies on are based on the same stats i don't know how you have decided there is a difference. For the NI v Ireland study that data comes from a dentist so where is the difference?
weisses wrote: » Admitting ... being dishonest ... here you go again All the things You have issues with I already mentioned myself ... Even the stats I am referring to all the time have all the data in regards to salt and milk fluoridation in percentages. What about this can you not grasp ?
weisses wrote: » How can I admit to something that I brought in myself in the first place .... Or do you use it for dramatic effect ? I suggest you look up what I meant by factoring it in .... Its only a few posts back ... And NO its not about evading but I am not in the habit of spoonfeeding all the time
weisses wrote: » I see 3 in the part in bold
weisses wrote: » You could also post factors that you think influence the statistics ... Its kinda how a discussion works
weisses wrote: » Seeing as they could not find any research in regards to effectiveness that reached their standard ...I don't think we disagree much
weisses wrote: » And what claims of me are wrong exactly ?
weisses wrote: » You can reach a conclusion from statistics ... claiming otherwise is just ridiculous
weisses wrote: » I am here to discuss not being subjected to a third degree hearing Now are you gonna post these statistics so I can honestly answer your yes/ no question How logical would it be to form an opinion on statistics I havent seen ?:o
weisses wrote: » Can we agree there is a difference between A: statistics and B: conclusions drawn from researching statistics ?
King Mob wrote: » But again, and please actually read and try to understand this part:You do not know how big the effect is. Claiming that these figures support your conclusion when you cannot exclude this factor is plain dishonest.
King Mob wrote: » You have not explained this at all. I have been asking you to outline exactly this for several pages but you continue to be evasive. Please explain in detail how you are sure that the above factor does not effect your conclusion. Please explain it to me like I am stupid.
King Mob wrote: » Ok, so we have a factor that would influence your statistics. You have not excluded how it might influence your statistics. And you don't know by how much it would effect your statistics.
King Mob wrote: » Ok, we've addressed that one. Are you claiming that it is the only factor that could influence your statistics?
King Mob wrote: » Pedantics to evade the question.:rolleyes: Is there any other factors? Yes or No? I have done so several times. jh79 posted a big long list. You ignored them What was that about spoon feeding and re-reading things? But here you go. Here's a tight concise list.http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=101575468&postcount=203
King Mob wrote: » Again, evading simple questions. You are saying that the evidence is clear and obvious. They make no mention of it at all.
King Mob wrote: » I've been very clear on this. 1. That statistics alone without excluding confounding factors are enough to reach scientific conclusions. 2. That water fluoridation has been proven to be ineffective.
King Mob wrote: » This is you being evasive. You don't want to pin yourself down to what you know is a ridiculous stance in case you have to wiggle out of it later. And you don't want to explain why the stance is ridiculous because then it would expose how flawed your above claim is.
jh79 wrote: » Yes , my issue isn't with the data it's your conclusions on the data .
weisses wrote: » In regards to NI .. I did not conclude anything other then the study is 16 years old ... I dont know if it was included in the Cochrane review .. etc
weisses wrote: » Correct ... I never claimed I did .. I gave my opinion based on the statistics
weisses wrote: » You got it wrong from the start so that is why you are probably confused If you say The statistics are showing DMFT and what fluoridation options are available
weisses wrote: » I never claimed anything of the sorts
weisses wrote: » Plus If you look back on this particular subject I noticed you are constantly moving the goalposts ...
weisses wrote: » I said I used my own judgement in regards to these factors ... You might not like it but I never claimed otherwise
weisses wrote: » You havent done anything bar thanking his post ... I missed that one
weisses wrote: » Have read them now and many of the points he raised are reflected in the statistics I am reffering to ... Which you should know if you actually examined them
weisses wrote: » Okay just to be clear here .. where did I state that the evidence is clear and obvious ? ... quote me on it so I can see the context
weisses wrote: » 1: You CAN reach a simple conclusion from statistics .... As I said numerous times ... statistics show 97% of Europe don't fluoridate their water .. that figure can be used without inclusion of confounding factors
weisses wrote: » 2:It has not been proven to be effective .... Using statistics in regards to Europe I conclude it is not effective ... (something you can disagree with)
weisses wrote: » I just repeat my last post: I am here to discuss not being subjected to a third degree hearing Now are you gonna post these statistics so I can honestly answer your yes/ no question How logical would it be to form an opinion on statistics I havent seen ?
weisses wrote: » Don't you think its evasive to wave with figures and not post them despite several requests for it ?
King Mob wrote: » How logical would it be for me to waste my time and dig up these stats and be hounded for excruciating detail
jh79 wrote: » https://www.stephenhancocks.com/view.php?article_id=959&journal_id=119 Here is a link to the study. You probably don't need the full pdf to answer the questions. Enough info is in the description. You need to explain how this study using the same raw data but with better controls came to a different conclusion than you? Because Cochrane didn't accept it isn't an answer as they wouldn't accept yours either. And the comparison is between your data and this. They observed a lower level of cariers in Ireland. Are you saying there are not a lower level of cariers in Ireland v N Ireland?..so are you saying this is a fraudulent study? The statical controls they used had the opposite effect and actually increased bias ? If this is your theory how did it go wrong? Should we reject all studies using these methods. Is the study design wrong? If so how. What are the implications for you assertion that the assesment of public health issues do not require studies to control for bias to reach a conclusion? Could you answer each of the above individually please?
There is insufficient information to determine whether initiation of a water fluoridation programme results in a change in disparities in caries across socioeconomic status (SES) levels.
Socio economic factors are important variables to take into account whencomparing caries levels amongst different communities
weisses wrote: » Who is being hounded here for excruciating detail ? Ill exclude 1 person ... you Here are the stats ... again You compare and decide where I displayed weaseling, dishonesty, pedantics, evasiveness ... etchttp://fluoridealert.org/studies/caries01/ For the rest of your last post ... There is so much misrepresentation in that,.. I just give up replying/ repeating myself
King Mob wrote: » No where in that or in the statistics do they address any of the factors that could possibly confound them. You have been lying. Please refer back to this list i postedhttp://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=101575468&postcount=203 And show how those raw statistics deal with those speficically. You wouldn't have to worry about being accused of evasiveness and misrepresentation and having to repeat yourself if you stop trying to dodge our points and dealt with them directly and honestly.
weisses wrote: » Milk/salt usage is in the statistics
weisses wrote: » Differentiation between adults and children is in there
weisses wrote: » Time frame is in there
Wouldn't rate of change be more appropriate to account for differing DMFT at t=0
weisses wrote: » That is just at first glance
weisses wrote: » I dont know if the study design is wrong ... But this study targets Children, and I think we are not in disagreement in regards to that One point though is that Cochrane concluded While Hancock claims
King Mob wrote: » Milk is not included in the statistics, only salt. Nor is fluoridated toothpaste. It does not state whether or not the number of people who do us fluoridated salt and products have been removed from the total number. Are they still included, yes or no? Or do you not know? What about the people in countries who have partial natural fluoridation in some countries? No mention there. It states that it is in 12 year olds only. You have agreed that water fluoridation is effective in children. Are these statistics wrong? Are you now changing your answer and stating that it is not effective in children and that Cochrane is wrong? Ok, yes this is true. It does not however address the point following that: There are still a bunch more factors that aren't accounted for at all. For example it does not account for the differing diets of people between countries and how said diets change over time. It does not account for the differing policies in dental health between countries or how they have changed over time. It does not account for the cost and availability of dental care in different countries and how that changes over time. You have said that these factors either have been addressed in those figures or they don't matter cause you just say so. Hence, you have been lying.
King Mob wrote: » But again you have avoided the question. I asked if there were any other factors you believe that would influence the statistics. Please address this.
jh79 wrote: » So you accept that the NI suggests fluoridation is still effective in children? Notice i say suggests not prove and i hope you would agree that this suggestion carries more wieight than your data because of the controls? If not you need to say where the controls and study design went wrong. Please don't take this as a dig but you have said that english isn't your first language and i think this has led to you misunderstanding what Cochrane's says. He says that there is not enough evidence that fluoridation works better in poorer areas. This does not mean studies no longer need to correct for socio economic factors Studies correcting for social economic factors do it to reduce bias. Different diets, access to health care etc all do have an influence on DMFT. The studies Cochrane rejected purposely introduce this bias to see if there is more of an effect in one type of community over the other. Basically two completely unrelated things.
jh79 wrote: » I didn't know where this data came from but now i know i'm shocked. This is just bizarre but quite funny. The data is on 12 yr old children and in the time frame that the Cochrane review covers! DMFT reduced in areas without fluoridation at the same time that studies proved without doubt (95% CI) that the DMFT reduces by 25% or so with fluoridation. The timeframe involved disproves your own conclusions and shows that simple stats are not to be trusted. Cochrane's says the following about confounders "We found all studies to be at high risk of bias for confounding. We considered confoundng factors for this outcome to be sugar consumption/dietary habits, SES, ethnicity and the use of other fluoride sources. We would have judged studies to be at low risk of confounding bias only if they had successfully controlled for all factors" All studies are at risk so what controls did you use?
weisses wrote: » Then there is no other options then to discard the results in regards to fluoride when its from the WHO, SHER etc Cannot have it both ways
weisses wrote: » There would be things in there not covered by JH ... Does that mean Im lying ? You asked for other factors besides the one I posted .. .and they are in there I never said otherwise ... See below
weisses wrote: » If you would have actually looked at the statistics as I said you should you would know this
jh79 wrote: » I know that's why i said you would back yourself into a corner by insisting on High Grade studies. Now what?
King Mob wrote: » You are lying because you claimed repeatedly that the statistics addresses all of the factors we have been bringing up. This is a lie. The statistics do no such thing.
King Mob wrote: » I have been asking you to explain what factors you would accept, but you have been avoiding this question. We finally dragged out one set from you, but your counter was that you just ignored it.
King Mob wrote: » Do you believe all of these factors might effect the statistics? Yes or no? If yes, then how do you factor them in other than "your judgement". if no, then why not?
King Mob wrote: » Is fluoride effective in children? You say your statistics say no. But you agree with Cochrane's conclusions, which say yes. You cannot hold these stances at the same time.
King Mob wrote: » If you had just posted them when asked instead of being coy and evasive then maybe we wouldn't have to keep asking you stuff 500 times...
weisses wrote: » I think both sides need to watch out for that ... Poor old Wheldon has more things to worry about then me
weisses wrote: » Nope I said they cover other statistics ...Just as you asked
weisses wrote: » Wrong again ... Other factors are in the statistics I am referencing from all the time ... If you would actually had looked at them you would know that
weisses wrote: » As I said earlier ... every factor could influence statistics
weisses wrote: » Statistics say yes ... Cochrane says yes ... Cannot make it any clearer I'm afraid
King Mob wrote: » That's not what I've been asking for at all. I asked quite clearly how you address these factors before you came to your conclusion. You did not address these factors, therefore your conclusion based on the statistics alone is worthless.
King Mob wrote: » But again you have avoided the question.I asked if there were any other factors you believe that would influence the statistics. Please address this.
King Mob wrote: » No other factors are covered by the statistics you posted at all. You were quite clear about how they simply only provide the number of fillings and how that "you don't need a study for that." However now you are claiming that they have other factors accounted for... which is false: They mention the percentage of salt fluoridation only, without mentioning whether they are included or excluded from the figure. There is no mention of fluoridated milk or toothpaste. There is no mention of partial fluoridation by natural sources. There is no mention of the differences caused by various policies between countries. There is no mention of the differences caused by the difference of availability and cost of dental care. There is no mention of the differences caused by the various diets of children between countries. There is no mention of how any of these factors might have changed over time. They are not mentioned, and you have not explained how you conclude that they don't influence your conclusion. If I am wrong, point out where exactly you do this or where these points are addressed in your statistics.
King Mob wrote: » So why do you think your conclusion is at all valid when you do not know how these factors influence the statistics? Just ignore them?
King Mob wrote: » Sorry, I said "fluoride" when I meant to say "water fluoridation". Allow me to rephrase: Is water fluoridation effective in children?You say your statistics say no. But you agree with Cochrane's conclusions, which say yes. You cannot hold these stances at the same time.