A study published in the late 1990s indicated a possible increase in endophthalm

Question

A study published in the late 1990s indicated a possible increase in endophthalmitis related to glaucoma surgery. The suspected cause of the infection was mitomycin C, an antifibrosis agent that prevents wound healing. Prevention of wound healing helps maintain drainage but also compromises barriers that normally prevent bacteria from entering the eye. A recent study was conducted to assess a new drug that prevents wound healing but which is also designed to reduce the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis. The incidence of endophthalmitis in this study was found to be 12% in 25 patients given the new drug and 20% for 20 patients given mitomycin C. The difference in efficacy between the two drugs was not statistically significant. Which of the following may be concluded? (only one is correct) a. The new treatment is effective in reducing postoperative endophthalmitis b. The new treatment is ineffective in reducing postoperative endophthalmitis The results are probably affected by information bias and cannot be considered reliable c. The evidence is insufficient to demonstrate that the new drug is effective in reducing endophatlmitis. d.

Explanation / Answer

Option 'd' is the correct answer.

Here in the study given above, the study was done only on a small group of people, 25 for the new drug and 20 for mitomycin C. This number of people is insufficient to say that the results obtained are statistically significant. There is a high chance, that increasing the sample population will result in either the same level of efficacy from both drugs or Mitomycin C might have a larger efficacy than the new drug. This study is a clear case of being not statistically significant but being clinically important. The study is simply underpowered because of a low sample size to detect a difference between groups.

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