PLAB 1 (GMC, international medical graduates) · Statistics and evidence-based practice

More statistics and appraisal

10 practice questions, each with the answer and an explanation.

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  1. In a cohort followed for 15 000 person-years, 45 people developed a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. What is the incidence rate?
  2. A chronic disease has an incidence of 2 per 1000 per year and an average duration of 5 years, in a stable population. What is its approximate prevalence?
  3. A trial reports that 5 percent of patients on a drug and 2 percent on placebo had a serious adverse event. What is the number needed to harm?
  4. In a trial the event rate was 25 percent in the control group and 15 percent in the treatment group. What is the relative risk reduction?
  5. A study finds that coffee drinkers have more lung cancer than non-drinkers. Many coffee drinkers also smoke. What is smoking in this relationship?
  6. Which of the following is at the top of the hierarchy of evidence for the effectiveness of a treatment?
  7. A very sensitive test is negative in a patient. What can be said?
  8. A trial reports a hazard ratio of 0.7 for death with a new treatment compared with placebo. How is this interpreted?
  9. A trial of 50 000 patients finds a reduction in systolic blood pressure of 0.5 mmHg with a p-value of less than 0.001. What is the best interpretation?
  10. A 5-year cohort study loses 30 percent of participants, and those lost are more likely to be sicker. Which bias is most relevant?

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