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Chapter 2: Problem 73

A study in Florida is examining whether health literacy classes and using simple medical instructions that include pictures and avoid big words and technical terms can keep Medicaid patients healthier (San Luis Obispo Tribune, October 16, 2002). Twenty-seven community health centers are participating in the study. For 2 years, half of the centers will administer standard care. The other centers will have patients attend classes and will provide special health materials that are easy to understand. Explain why it is important for the researchers to assign the 27 centers to the two groups (standard care and classes with simple health literature) at random.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Random assignment is implemented to control for all other variables that could influence the outcomes of interest. In the context of the study in this exercise, randomizing the 27 community health centers into two groups (standard care and classes with simpler health literature) ensures that any observed differences in health outcomes between the two groups can be attributed to the intervention (health literacy classes and simpler medical instructions), rather than to other confounding variables.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Concept of Randomisation

Randomisation is a process used in research studies to prevent bias. It involves randomly assigning participants (in this case, the 27 community health centers) to different groups. The purpose is to ensure that each participant has an equal chance of being placed in any group - in this case, the standard care or the classes with simple health literature.
02

Importance of Randomisation

Random assignment is crucial in research as it helps ensure that any differences in outcomes are due to the different treatments or interventions and not other factors. If the assignment was not random, there could be systematic differences between the groups before the study even begins, such as one group could have more teaching resources than the other, which could influence the outcomes of the study.
03

Applying to the Study

In the context of the study described in this exercise, it is important for the researchers to assign the 27 centers randomly to the two groups so that the effect of the health literacy classes and simpler medical instructions can be accurately measured. Without random assignment, results could be skewed by pre-existing factors, such as staff expertise or resources at some centers, leading to incorrect conclusions.

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