TernTables: A Statistical Analysis and Table Generation Web Interface for Clinical and Biomedical Research

Abstract

Clinical research dissemination is frequently hindered by administrative friction and methodological inconsistency. To address these barriers, we developed TernTables, a freely available, open-source web application (https://www.tern-tables.com/) and R package (https://cran.r-project.org/package=TernTables) that streamlines the transition from raw data to formatted results for descriptive and univariate clinical reporting. The system integrates a client-side screening protocol for protected health information (PHI) with a rule-based decision tree that selects and executes appropriate frequency-based, parametric, or non-parametric statistical tests based on data distribution and class. TernTables generates publication-ready summary tables in Microsoft Word format, complemented by dynamically generated methods text and the underlying R code to ensure complete transparency and reproducibility. Validation using a landmark clinical trial dataset demonstrated concordance with established biostatistical approaches for descriptive and univariate analyses. TernTables is designed to supplement, not replace, formal statistical consultation by standardizing routine descriptive and univariate workflows, allowing biostatistical expertise to be focused on complex analyses and study design. By lowering technical and financial barriers, the platform democratizes access to rigorous statistical workflows while maintaining methodological excellence and reducing "researcher degrees of freedom."