Epidemiology & Biostatistics Mock Examination
Lent 2010
1. In a hypothetical clinical trial, a new drug was compared with "standard therapy" treatment. The endpoint was
myocardial infarction.
Which of the following best describes the primary reason to randomize patients to treatments? (Choose one best
answer)
a. to create two treatment groups that are similar at baseline on both known and unknown factors associated with
myocardial infarction.
b. prevent bias introduced when the patients know what type of treatment they are receiving
c. prevent bias introduced when the investigators know what type of treatment the patients are receiving
d. b and c
2. A randomized trial studied 242 HIV-seropositive, 2nd-trimester pregnant women to assess the efficacy of zidovudine
(AZT) in preventing perinatal HIV transmission. Results were:
Results from a randomized trial of the efficacy of zidovudine in preventing perinatal HIV transmission
1
Lent 2010
1. In a hypothetical clinical trial, a new drug was compared with "standard therapy" treatment. The endpoint was
myocardial infarction.
Which of the following best describes the primary reason to randomize patients to treatments? (Choose one best
answer)
a. to create two treatment groups that are similar at baseline on both known and unknown factors associated with
myocardial infarction.
b. prevent bias introduced when the patients know what type of treatment they are receiving
c. prevent bias introduced when the investigators know what type of treatment the patients are receiving
d. b and c
2. A randomized trial studied 242 HIV-seropositive, 2nd-trimester pregnant women to assess the efficacy of zidovudine
(AZT) in preventing perinatal HIV transmission. Results were:
Results from a randomized trial of the efficacy of zidovudine in preventing perinatal HIV transmission
1
