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8. Statins are drugs which reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver - Scottish Highers Human Biology - Question 8 - 2016
Question 8
8. Statins are drugs which reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver. A year-long trial was carried out to investigate the effects of taking a newly-develope... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:8. Statins are drugs which reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver - Scottish Highers Human Biology - Question 8 - 2016
Step 1
Using the results in the table, give one reason why this drug might be recommended
Answer
The drug might be recommended because it lowers cholesterol levels. For example, by the end of the trial, Group 1 showed a decrease in average blood cholesterol levels from 6.3 mmol/l to 5.1 mmol/l, indicating the statin's effectiveness.
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Describe the design features which would have been used to ensure that this both a randomised and a double-blind trial.
Answer
To ensure it was randomised, all individuals would have been randomly allocated to either Group 1 or Group 2, giving everyone an equal chance of being assigned to either group. For the double-blind aspect, neither the participants nor the researchers would have known which individuals received the statin or the placebo until the trial was concluded.
Step 5
Using evidence from the bar graph, suggest why it was decided that this statin was not worth further development.
Answer
The bar graph indicates that the error bars overlap between Group 1 and Group 2, which suggests there is no significant difference in final blood cholesterol concentrations between the two groups. Therefore, it implies that the statin may not be effective enough to justify further development.
Step 6