A newspaper article reported that "Children who routinely compete in vigorous after-school sports on hazy days are three times more likely to get asthma than their athletic peers. Of the following, which is the most important additional information that would be useful before ranking a decision about participation in school sports?
A. where was the study conducted B. how many students in the study participated in after-school sports? C. what is the baseline risk for getting asthma D. who funded the study? E. none of the above
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
To make an informed decision about participation in school sports based on the information provided, it is crucial to understand the baseline risk for getting asthma.
- Baseline Risk for Getting Asthma (C): This provides context for understanding how much the risk of asthma increases due to participating in vigorous after-school sports on hazy days. Knowing the baseline risk helps in evaluating whether the increase in risk (three times higher) is significant in absolute terms.
- Where the Study Was Conducted (A): While location can impact generalizability, it does not directly inform the relative risk increase.
- Number of Students in the Study (B): This is important for assessing the study’s reliability but does not provide context for the risk increase.
- Who Funded the Study (D): Funding sources can indicate potential biases, but they do not directly impact the relative risk reported.
The most important additional information for making a decision about participation in school sports is the baseline risk for getting asthma.
The correct answer is C. what is the baseline risk for getting asthma.
