Team University of Dayton Engineering & Safety Lab No. 14: What Does This Research Mean to Me?

When results of medical studies are reported to the public, some of the information can be misleading. In particular, studies that are researching new types of drugs seem the most confusing. Is it possible that one drug could be “300% more effective” than another? How do we know what is worth paying attention to?


First, see if the study was a “randomized controlled clinical trial”. This type is usually the most reliable because it involves a large number of subjects randomly put into test groups and control groups. Neither the doctors nor the subjects know which group the subjects are placed in. Randomized controlled clinical trials minimize bias.

Two other tell-tale terms are “relative risk” and “absolute risk.” Absolute risk shows the actual number of people the drug helps, but relative risk just indicates the likelihood that the drug helps. Saying “Relative risk” can make a drug seem more effective than it actually was. Lastly, make sure the subjects were similar to you in age, gender, and medical history.

“The bottom line is: talk to your doctor. He or she can help you understand the results and what they could mean for your health.”