I can't find the comments, and there are no ads on my screen.

I expect the authors will come back with a robust riposte to the
comment about 'too large a sample'.

They will argue that they *have* taken measures to address potential
confounding factors.

My understanding of stats is (ahem) a work in progress, but I
understand that a very large sample is sometimes *not* a good thing,
though. The problem with large samples can be that the huge numbers
allow you to look for things and find them - simply 'cos with
sufficient subjects in your study, you are more likely to come up
with something that confirms your bias!  You can go on asking a
zillion questions, until you hit a target, eventually. This is
particularly the case with a retrospective, observational study like
this one.

But with care, in particular controlling for your confounders as this
study seems to have done, this is not a problem.  Also, having a
shortish list of precise questions - again what this study has done -
helps.

In fact, this study appears to confirm previous research about
hospitalisation and infant feeding in a western setting.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

>While it is reasonably hard to leave me speechless, the commentary
>published in this on-line journal did manage to do exactly that.
>
>''Nevertheless, despite the authors having taken measures to address
>potential confounding factors, it is possible that sample sizes as
>large as this study's can lead to associations that are without
>academic merit. "
>
>"Nevertheless"? Too big sample? that is "without academic merit"?!
>
>Grrrr....
>
>But then look at the ads on both sides of the article...
>
>Alla (off my soap box almost speechless)
>

--

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