Exercise 6: Understanding Frequencies and
Percentages
1. What are the frequency and percentage of the COPD patients in the severe airflow limitation
group who are employed in the Eckerblad et al. (2014) study?
7, 14%
2. What percentage of the total sample is retired? What percentage of the total sample is on sick
leave?
Retired: 61%, Sick leave: 15%
3. What is the total sample size of this study? What frequency and percentage of the total sample
were still employed? Show your calculation and round your answer to the nearest whole percent.
Total sample size: 91, Frequency: 14, Percent: 14/91=0.1538X100=15%
4. What is the total percentage of the sample with a smoking history-either still smoking or
former smokers? Is the smoking history for study participants clinically important? Provide a
rationale for your answer.
Still smoking:25%, Former smoker: 63%, 63+25=88/91X100=97%
Yes, a smoking history provides insight into possibilities for future ailments.
5. What are pack years of smoking? Is there a significant difference between the moderate and
severe airflow limitation groups regarding pack years of smoking? Provide a rationale for your
answer.
The amount of packs of cigarettes smoked in a specific number of years, 1 pack year
equals smoking 1 pack per day for a year.
The p value is 0.177 which means there is no significant difference between moderate
and severe airflow limitation groups regarding pack years of smoking
Percentages
1. What are the frequency and percentage of the COPD patients in the severe airflow limitation
group who are employed in the Eckerblad et al. (2014) study?
7, 14%
2. What percentage of the total sample is retired? What percentage of the total sample is on sick
leave?
Retired: 61%, Sick leave: 15%
3. What is the total sample size of this study? What frequency and percentage of the total sample
were still employed? Show your calculation and round your answer to the nearest whole percent.
Total sample size: 91, Frequency: 14, Percent: 14/91=0.1538X100=15%
4. What is the total percentage of the sample with a smoking history-either still smoking or
former smokers? Is the smoking history for study participants clinically important? Provide a
rationale for your answer.
Still smoking:25%, Former smoker: 63%, 63+25=88/91X100=97%
Yes, a smoking history provides insight into possibilities for future ailments.
5. What are pack years of smoking? Is there a significant difference between the moderate and
severe airflow limitation groups regarding pack years of smoking? Provide a rationale for your
answer.
The amount of packs of cigarettes smoked in a specific number of years, 1 pack year
equals smoking 1 pack per day for a year.
The p value is 0.177 which means there is no significant difference between moderate
and severe airflow limitation groups regarding pack years of smoking
