Researchers wanted to determine whether taking large amount of Vitamins A or E p

Question

Researchers wanted to determine whether taking large amount of Vitamins A or E protects against prostate cancer (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1998). To study this question, they enrolled 29, 133 Finnish men. all smokers between the ages of 50 and 69. The men were randomly divided into groups: some took Vitamin E supplements and some took a placebo pill that had no active ingredient. The researchers followed all the men for eight years and then determined how many had developed cancer. (a) Was this an observational study or an experiment? Clearly explain the reason for your choice. (b) Explain for this context how this study could be "double-blind." (c) What population are you willing to generalize the results of this study to? Explain. (d) Suppose at the end of the study, men taking Vitamin E were "statistically significantly" less likely to develop cancer than men in the placebo group. Do you think it would be reasonable to conclude that taking Vitamin E supplements reduces the risk of cancer? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

(a) Yes this is an observational study, as the treatments taken by the patients were not under the control of the researchers

(b)People developing cancer even after treatments with vitamin E and A that protects against cancer are given.

This can be considered the case of a double-blind

(c)A population of more than 30,000 would be sufficiently large to observe the results and conclude with statements

(d)We can give weighted average to find whether people taking Vitamin E supplements actually are protected against cancer. However a small sample size where there is more chunk of poeple falling in double blind would navigate us from the real case scenario. Hence it is recommended to have good sample size before taking out any conclustions on the same

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