Goods and services of all kinds are advertised to potential customers to expand product
usage and to make profits. Medications are advertised as well. If they were not, people
would be unaware of the products available to them and sales may be so low that no money
is made by the companies who have invested in the new medication.
When reading or hearing about drugs and medical treatments, especially new products, the
source of the information is important. Also, all drugs and treatments have positives and
negatives, so hearing a few positive (or negative) soundbites might not give a person the
information they need to decide if the drug is right for their situation.
Statistics are often used when medications are advertised to the general public. Yet do most
people understand what the risks and benefits are? How good is the statistical knowledge of
the general population? Is it easy to think clearly and analytically when sick, weak, or in
pain?
Take this example. Which drug would you rather take: One that reduces your risk of cancer
by 50 percent, or another drug that only eliminates cancer in one out of 100 people? Most
people would choose the drug that reduces their risk of cancer by 50 percent, but the fact is,
both of these numbers refer to the same drug. They’re just two different ways of looking at
the same statistic. One way is called relative risk; the other way is absolute risk.
Here's how it works: Let’s say there is a trial involving 100 people. Two people would
normally get breast cancer during the trial duration, but when all 100 people are put on the
drug, only one person gets breast cancer. This means the reduction of breast cancer is one
person out of 100. Yet the relative risk reduction is 50 percent because one is 50 percent of
two. In other words, the risk is cut in half from a relative point of view.
Even though this drug may help one out of 100 people, its side effects create increased risks
to all 100 people. Everyone suffers some harm from the potential side effects of the drug,
even if that harm is not immediately evident. However, only one out of 100 people was
actually helped by the drug.
Review the 10 Essential Services of Public Health
here: https://www.cdc.gov/stltpublichealth/publichealthservices/essentialhealthservices.html
In your post:
1. Discuss how 4 of the Essential Services of Public Health relate to the issues of
medication advertising and biostatistics.
2. How would you rate your statistical knowledge? The knowledge of an average U.S.
resident?
3. Do you think statistics should be used when advertising new medications? How can
advertisers help ensure that the stats they are using do not oversimplify or give only
a partial picture of the risks involved?
4. Cite at least one scripture passage that pertains to this topic.
HLTH 501 Discussion Board 1 Rubric
Criteria
Levels of Achievement
Content 80%
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not present
20 points*
Student provides a thoughtful,
substantive reflection that
addresses points 1, 2 and 3. The
post is on Monday or Tuesday.
17 to 19 points*
Student provides a thoughtful
reflection that addresses points 1, 2
and 3. The post is on Wednesday or
Thursday.
1 to 16 points*
Student provides a reflection that
addresses some of the points 1, 2 and
3. The post was submitted after
Thursday.
0 points
The student did not submit an
initial post.
Structure 20%
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not present
5 points*
Two thoughtful replies to other
students.
4 points*
The posts were not substantive.
1 to 3 points*
One reply post.
0 points
Zero reply posts
*Please see the Levels of Achievement Points spreadsheet for standardized point values based off your school/department’s grading scale.
1
Running head: MEDICAL ADVERTISING AND BIOSTATISTICS (QUESTION 1)
Medical Advertising and Biostatistics (Question 1)
Name:
Institution:
Course Code:
MEDICAL ADVERTISING AND BIOSTATISTICS (QUESTION 1) 2
How 4 of the Essential Services of Public Health Relate to Medication
Advertising and Biostatistics
One of the main services of public health; inform, educate, and empower people
about health issues is pertinent to biostatistics and medication advertising since the same is used
as a means of enlightening people on the prevalent and dangerous health issues (through
verifiable statistics) and means of addressing the same. Also, medication advertising and
biostatistics help people to access the best alternative treatment options, in the case of absent
medical assistance, more so in case of emergencies. As such, they link people to needed
personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.
Also, the use of statistics and medication advertising paints a picture of competence on the part
of medical practitioners, which in turn helps to assure the public of competent public and
personal health care workforce. Sending the word out on medication through biostatistics also
helps to form a research basis to evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal
and population-based health services in the market.
Why the Statistical Knowledge of An Average American Resident is Low
Around three-quarters of American male adults are obese, and around 60% of
American female adults are overweight (Murray, Ng & Mokdad, 2019). Alcohol-related
disorders increased by 50% over the past ten years. These statistics (ironically) indicate the little
knowledge the average American has on health issues and statistical knowledge. More people do
not care about their health because they do not know to what extent unhealthy living affects
them.
Why Statistics should be used in Advertising New Medications
MEDICAL ADVERTISING AND BIOSTATISTICS (QUESTION 1) 3
Statistics should be extensively used in the mass media to expand knowledge on
health issues. Descriptive statistics is important (more so about health issues affecting total
populations) since they do not amplify or simplify the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of any
medication. For example, explaining how two in every 100 people have breast cancer or 160
million Americans are obese, and the totality of this affected population making a full recovery is
the most honest approach that explains the severity of a health issue and its solution.
Scripture Perspective
Psalms 107:20 (NIV) encourages medication advertising by stating ‘He sent out
his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.’ This verse may be taken as an
allusion to the need of sending out the word (knowledge) which in turn will help to heal people.
MEDICAL ADVERTISING AND BIOSTATISTICS (QUESTION 1) 4
References
Accredited Website
CDC - Public Health System and the 10 Essential Public Health Services - OSTLTS. (2019).
Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/publichealthservices/essentialhealthservices.html
Accredited Website
Murray, C., Ng, M., & Mokdad, A. (2019). The vast majority of American adults are overweight
or obese, and weight is a growing problem among US children. Retrieved from
http://www.healthdata.org/news-release/vast-majority-american-adults-are-overweight-or-obese-
and-weight-growing-problem-among
1
Running head: RESEARCH DESIGNS THAT MIGHT BE USED TO RESEARCH LIFE
THREATENING ISSUES (QUESTION 2)
Research design That Might Be Used to Research Life-Threatening Issues (Question 2)
Name:
Institution:
Course Code:
RESEARCH DESIGNS THAT MIGHT BE USED TO RESEARCH LIFE THREATENING
ISSUES (QUESTION 2) 2
Research design 1: Single-Arm Trial Design
The simplest medical research design, the single-arm trial design consists of a
sample of individuals with the life-threatening condition given an experimental form of therapy
and followed over a period to observe their response to the same (Evans, 2010). This form of
research usually has a variety of outcomes, based on the intervention employed (positive
response or no response). The sample of individuals may be given the treatment therapy and
compared with another sample given another different therapy.
Ethical Issues with the Single-Arm Method
One ethical issue regarding the same is the perception that giving one randomly
chosen sample a given treatment option at the expense of another is unethical since patients
should be given the best available treatment. Although this method is essentially most effective,
at least, as far as comparisons are concerned, it is, nonetheless seemingly oblivious of the greater
good of the patients.
Research design 2: The Crossover Trial design
In this method, the participants (persons infected with the disease under
investigation) are randomized to a specific sequence of treatments that are under comparison
during treatment periods. For example, for a two-period two sequence trial (2 by 2), two
treatments X and Y are randomized into either of two possible sequences: X then Y or Y then X
(Evans, 2010). Analysis between each treatments’ assigned period determines the effectiveness
of the treatment in question.
Ethical Issues Eliminated With the Crossover Trial Method
Patients benefit from the experimental study by obtaining all available treatment
options in the study, which, if accompanied by follow-up care, would amount to the best possible
RESEARCH DESIGNS THAT MIGHT BE USED TO RESEARCH LIFE THREATENING
ISSUES (QUESTION 2) 3
results. It also maintains the required randomness of the design, which in turn gives the best
possible research results.
Scripture Reference
Proverbs 18:23 (ESV) states that ‘If one answers before he hears, it is his folly
and shame’ which is an allusion to the need to listen to subjects of any design process. The
results of any research (answer) should be based on the research methodology and design, which
is a function of the opinions of those who are subject of the research. Thus, their opinions should
be taken into consideration.
RESEARCH DESIGNS THAT MIGHT BE USED TO RESEARCH LIFE THREATENING
ISSUES (QUESTION 2) 4
References
Journal
Evans, S. (2010). Clinical trial structures. Journal Of Experimental Stroke & Translational
Medicine, 03(01). doi: 10.4172/1939-067x.1000115
1
Running head: KNOWLEDGE OF BIOSTATISTICS AND HOW IT HELPS TO ADDRESS
SITUATIONS (QUESTION 3)
Knowledge of Biostatistics and how it can help Address Situations
Name:
Institution:
Course Code:
KNOWLEDGE OF BIOSTATISTICS AND HOW IT HELPS TO ADDRESS SITUATIONS
(QUESTION 3) 2
The Chosen Scenario
Scenario 1, which describes the situation of a 45-year old male patient and a
father of six, diagnosed with a terminal illness. The man, as evidenced by statistics, has around
seven months to live.
How Biostatistics Helps to Address the Situation
To come up with such information, medical practitioners use biostatistics (mostly
in the case of terminal illnesses) to come up with resolutions and action plans in response to the
severity of a disease. The main criteria for these decisions include the survival rate as it relates to
age, type of disease, and stage of disease and period of infection. For example, for a specific
terminal disease, a 5-year relative survival rate represents the percentage of patients on record
who are likely to be live five years after diagnosis ("Understanding Statistics Used to Guide
Prognosis and Evaluate Treatment", 2019). The survival rate may be an amalgamation of one or
more of these factors, for example, if the 5-year survival rate for men with Stage III prostate
cancer is 58% (hypothetically), then 58 out of every 100 males with this stage of cancer will
survive, Such information may also include disease-free survival rate (percentage of patients in
remission after completing treatment) ("Understanding Statistics Used to Guide Prognosis and
Evaluate Treatment", 2019).
Such information is vital because it dictates the likelihood of achieving complete
recovery in the case of a terminal illness. Explaining these facts in the simplest manner possible
might help the patient to make informed decisions on the best possible decision to make
(whether to seek treatment and which treatment to seek) in the case of the same.
How a Biblical Worldview Might Be Advanced
KNOWLEDGE OF BIOSTATISTICS AND HOW IT HELPS TO ADDRESS SITUATIONS
(QUESTION 3) 3
Terminal illness is peculiar because it is an assurance of impending death. As
such, the Biblical worldview of life after death which in one way or another is affected by the
way people live their lives may be furthered through the same. For example, 2 Corinthians 4:16-
19 encourages those suffering from terminal illnesses, ‘Therefore we do not lose heart. Though
outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are renewed daily.’ The same message of hope and
perseverance is expressed in Romans 5:12 which states, therefore, just as sin came into the world
through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men.’
KNOWLEDGE OF BIOSTATISTICS AND HOW IT HELPS TO ADDRESS SITUATIONS
(QUESTION 3) 4
References
Accredited Website
Understanding Statistics Used to Guide Prognosis and Evaluate Treatment. (2019). Retrieved
from https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/cancer-basics/understanding-statistics-used-
guide-prognosis-and-evaluate-treatment
