Homework 3: Article Critique

1. Describe the study population

• What was the independent variable of interest in this study?

• This study makes use of two different versions of this independent variable. 

    What are these two versions?

 What type of variable is each?

• How were participants recruited into the study?

•  What type of sample was taken?

• Table 1 gives characteristics of the participants across the survival groups.  A footnote in this table reads, “Note. Chi-square test or analysis of variance was used to determine differences across groups.”
• Which test (chi-square or ANOVA) was used to assess the relationship between Age and Years Since Diagnosis? 

• What was the p-value from this test? 

• What’s your conclusion for this test?

• Which test (chi-square or ANOVA) was used to assess the relationship between Severity of other illnesses and Years Since Diagnosis?

• What was the p-value from this test

• What’s your conclusion for this test?

• What was the mean number of years since diagnosis for each of the three survival groups?

• Table 2 shows the mean scores of the measured outcomes of interest across the different survival groups.  
•       Which test was used to assess the difference in these outcomes across the groups? 

Explain why this is the appropriate test.

• In your own words, briefly summarize the conclusions from Table 2.

• Do you think that the results of this study can be applied to the general population of cancer survivors in New Zealand? Why or why not?