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Falling short at 90% MADAM - I was pleased to see the article on statistical significance by Sally French (Physiotherapy, June). However, the paragraph relating to the physiotherapist finding 90% of her patients consistently improving following a given treatment, yet falling far short of statistical significance left me confused. With what was this treatment being compared? What sample size was involved? What statistic was used to demonstrate this falling far short of statistical significance? Does the author equate significance at 95% with the need to show improvement in 95% of patients? If those.who want to stimulate discussion in this area wish to retain credibility, they should take more care over the writing and ,checking of articles such as this, prior to publication. In the meantime, I would hope that physiotherapists are not unduly alarmed at the prospect of 'failure' on the basis of this paragraph. IAN FELL MCSP Elkington Northants Sally French writes: Mr Fell is quite right to point out the con- fusion and illogical thinking in this paragraph. It glared at me from the page as soon as I saw it in print! I apologise for this and do hope the rest of the article was useful. Call For Research Papers Anyone interested in presenting a paper at the combined conferenceof the Association of District and Superintendent Chartered Physiotherapists and the Association of Teachers of the CSP, to be held at the University of Ulster on April 7-9, 1989, is invited to submit an abstract. These should be forwarded by November 30, 1988, to Mrs N Jamieson, Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Topics for discussion are also requested and should be forwarded by December 31, 1988, to the same address. news Independent Hospital Physiotherapists Group The Associationof Chartered Physiothera- pists in Independent Hospitals (ACPIH) is being formed as a new Specific Interest Group by Chartered physiotherapists working in private hospitals. 1. To promotethe highest professional stan- dards of physiotherapy within independent hospitals. 2. To promote and develop the exchange of ideas and inter-relationshipsbetween mem- bers of the Association working in inde- pendent hospitals. 3. To act as an advisory body to which members can apply for help and advice in matters relevant to independent hospitals. 4. To encourage mutual co-operation between the ACPIH and Chartered physio- It has the following objectives: therapists in private practice and the National Health Service. 5. To provide education in clinical and managerial skills. 6. To make known the work of Chartered physiotherapists iq independent hospitals. The first AGM of the ACPlH will take place at: Humane Hospital Wellington, Wellington Place, London NW8 9LE on Saturday, October 15 at 2.30 pm. Contact: Frances E Harris MCSP,Superintendent Physiotherapist (tel 01-586 5959 ext 2262). All interested are most welcoma Further informationabout the Association may be obtained from: Claire Tuhey MCSP, acting chairman (telO293 785511 ext 220) and Grace Dorey MCSP, acting honorary secretary (tel 01-950 9090 ext 129). The AOCP Goes International In 1989 one of the four-monthly journals published by the Associationof Orthopaedic Chartered Physiotherapistswill have an inter- national flavour. We now invite Chartered physiotherapists to write to us with their experiences of working outside the United Kingdom. Whether the subject is a case history, overview of case-load, personalexperience, the benefits and drawbacks of working abroad, working and living conditions, language problems, or funny stories, we would be very interested to hear. Having a particular interest in the Third World, we aim to highlight physiotherapists working in orthopaedics abroad so that a closer liaison can be set up, and those working abroad will no longer feel isolated. Anyone working abroad can hold member- ship of the AOCP, for the normal subscription of €7.50 annually or €80 life membership. For that they will receivethe journal, to which they are invited to contribute. We hope that this will then lead to closer contacts and liaison regarding treatment modalities. We hope it will widen reader interest and help to establish a world-wide network of information. From there, there is the possibility of speakers being invitedto talk to AOCP groups. The scope for developing international links seems boundless. We await readers' letters with eager anticipation. Remember it can't happen unless we make it happen. Contact: Mr Mark Felton AOCP PRO PhysiotherapyDepartment, Royal Liverpool Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool L7 8XP. PLI and Animal Therapy Members are reminded that a special insurance has been arranged on the Society's professional liability policy for Chartered physiotherapists carrying out physiotherapeutic procedures on animals. Members who wish to take advantage of this insurance must be category A members of the Association of Chartered Physio- therapists in Animal Therapy. For further details contact Mrs P R Robinson, Director, CSP Professional Affairs Department, 14 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4ED. World Student Games Sao Paolo 1989 The British Student Sports Federation invites applications from Chartered physio- therapistswho would be interested in serving on the Great Britain medical team at the World Student Games, in Sao Paolo, Brazil during August 1989 if such posts became available. Applicants should be members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy with a graduate diploma of physiotherapy, or equivalent. They should have a minimum of four years' post-registration clinical experi- ence and at least two years' experience with the treatment of sports-related injuries. Active involvement with student sports would be an advantage. Applicants should send their curriculum vitae, with the names of two referees, by Friday October 7 to Mr Y G Matischen, Organising Secretary, British Students Sports Federation, 28 Woburn Square, London WC1H OAD. Consultants' Farewell Two members of the Education Depart- ment left the Chartered Society's staff this summer when their contracts came to en end. Miss Christine Bithell (left) physio- therapy education consultant, went to take up a post at The London Hospital School of physiotherapy; and Miss Angela 7itchen left for a Churchill Fellowship study tour of Australia before returning to this country as a freelanca physiotherapy, September 1988, vd 74, no 9 445
