EAB: Introduction

Question 1

What is the general statistic approach?

Answer 1

1. Design experiment to answer a clear question question (Hypothesis)
2. Design clear analysis plan
3. Gather data/perform experiment
4. Assess associations/differences (effect size)
5. Assess uncertainty in measures (confidence intervals)
6. Assess significance (p-value)
7. Interpret clinically/scientifically

Question 2

What’s changed in general statistic approach?

Answer 2

• Previous models were static, our model is dynamic and updating, so the prognosis changes if a patient’s condition changes for worse or better.
• A practical high performance statistical model, for the first time, to make individual and updated survival predictions with over 90% precision.
• New online app to collect the data world-wide and to further validate and fine-tune the model

Question 3

What are the different study types?

Answer 3

1. Observational/Epidemiological
2. Dignostic (Method Comparison/Evaluation)
3. Treatment/Translation (Clinical Trial)

Answer 4

• Randomization
• Blinding
• Intention to treat analysis
• Per protocol analysis

Question 5

What is randomisation in an clinical trial?

Answer 5

• Random allocation into an experimental group and a control group
• Avoids selection bias
• Successful randomisation makes different groups have similar characteristics at baseline

Question 6

What is blinding in an clinical trial?

Answer 6

• A blind experiment is an experiment in which information about the test is masked (kept) from the participants
• Aim: to reduce or eliminate bias
• Bias may be intentional or unconscious

Question 7

What are the different types of blinding in clinical trials?

Answer 7

Unblinded / open label - All parties are aware of the treatment allocation
Single blind / single-masked- Participants are unaware of the treatment they receive
Double blind / double-masked - Participants and clinicians / data collectors are unaware of the treatment participants receive
Triple blind - Participants, clinicians / data collectors and data analysts are all unaware of the treatment participants receive

Question 8

Factors that suggest causation include:

Answer 8

Factors that suggest causation include:
* Strength of association (high relative risk or odds ratio)
* Dose-response relationship (more exposure, greater risk)
* Temporality (cause before effect)
* Consistency (multiple studies confirm association)
* Experimental evidence (e.g. animal experiments, randomised controlled trials, natural experiments)
* Specificity (one cause one effect, though not always as smoking causes many diseases)
* Plausibility (a plausible mechanism exists)