Using the right stats when discussing a treatment's dangers

Article

The way a physician presents statistics on the risks and benefits of a specific medical intervention can have a profound effect on the decisions patients make concerning treatment.

Study participants presented with only relative risk figures were twice as likely to choose chemotherapy as those presented with absolute risk figures. When subjects were given statistics in four of the most common ways of presenting survival data—relative risk reduction, absolute risk reduction, absolute survival benefit, and number needed to treat—participants reported being confused and less able to make a decision at all.

The researchers concluded that the most effective and least confusing way of presenting data is to use absolute risk reduction and to explain the data using charts or other visual aids that help ensure that all patients make fully informed health-care decisions.

Hede K. When 50 percent is not the same as a coin toss: study examines decisions made based on statistics. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004;96:737-738 and Chao C, Studts JL, Abell T, et al. Adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: how presentation of recurrence risk influences decision-making. J Clin Oncol. 2003;21:4299-4305.

Recent Videos
How advancements in IVF are impacting embryologist workload and patient care | Image Credit: fertility.coopersurgical.com/our_experts
Study finds no causal link between maternal health in pregnancy and autism risk | Image Credit: med.nyu.edu/faculty.
Mirvie's RNA platform revolutionizes detection of fetal growth restriction | Image Credit: wexnermedical.osu.edu
How early genetic testing empowers parents and improves outcomes | Image Credit: tuftsmedicine.org
Dallas Reed highlights trends and barriers in prenatal genetic testing | Image Credit: tuftsmedicine.org
How maternal fetal medicine specialists improve outcomes for high-risk pregnancies | Image Credit: profiles.mountsinai.org
How the cobas liat assay panels improve STI detection | Image Credit: labqualityconfab.
Screening-to-diagnosis interval vital for gestational diabetes outcomes | Image Credit: ultracon2024.eventscribe.net
Henri M. Rosenberg, MD
Medical experts personalize contraceptive options for complex cases | Image Credit: findcare.ahn.org
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.