An advertisement in a medical journal stated that “3,600 subjects with sore thro
ID: 3013549 • Letter: A
Question
An advertisement in a medical journal stated that “3,600 subjects with sore throats were treated with our new medicine. Within 48 hours, 95% were asymptomatic.” The advertisement claims that the medicine was effective. Based on the evidence given above, the claim:
a. Is correct
b. May be incorrect because the conclusion is not based on a rate
c. May be incorrect because of failure to recognize a long-term cohort phenomenon
d. May be incorrect because no control or comparison group was involved
e. May be incorrect because no test of statistical significance was used
Explanation / Answer
Correct option is D.
May be incorrect because no control or comparison group was involved.
It's possible that if a placebo drug is used instead of medicine, sore throat can also become asymptomatic within 2 days.
Ideal test can be that treatment was in controlled enviroment. like some people was treated with medicine and rest of them was with placebo drug, than compare the results.