Define "clinical significance."

"Clinical significance" refers to the practical importance of a treatment effect, indicating whether it has a real-world impact on patient health or quality of life. This concept goes beyond mere statistical analysis, which may demonstrate that an intervention has an effect, to assess whether that effect is meaningful in a clinical setting.

In practice, this means that even if a statistically significant result is achieved (suggesting that the findings are unlikely to be due to chance), the actual size of the effect must also be considered. A treatment may yield statistically significant results but may not be clinically significant if the effect size is so small that it does not result in a noticeable improvement in patient outcomes. Evaluating clinical significance helps healthcare professionals determine whether a treatment should be recommended or if a particular intervention is worth pursuing based on the real-life benefits it brings to patients.