Question

Interpretation

Use table 1 to answer the following questions.

Interpret the adjusted odds ratios on table 1 for post-secondary education, employment, and illicit drug use. (3 points)

What variables were statistically significant? How do you know they were statistically significant? (2 points)

Give one recommendation on what the researchers would have done differently. (2 points)

TABLE 1

Variable	Crude OR (95% CI)	Adjusted ORa (95% CI)
Sociodemographic factors
Sex	1.33 (0.80–2.23)
Postsecondary education	0.45 (0.27–0.76)	0.47 (0.28–0.80)b
Employment	0.74 (0.43–1.27)	0.68 (0.39–1.19)
Smoking	4.22 (2.23–8.00)	4.35 (2.27–8.31)b
Alcohol	1.14 (0.67–1.92)	1.08 (0.63–1.86)
Illicit drug use	2.24 (1.13–4.41)	2.42 (1.18–4.96)b
Clinical factors
Adverse medication side effects	1.84 (1.08–3.12)	1.79 (1.04–3.05)b
Seizure type	0.95 (0.54–1.65)	0.90 (0.52–1.58)
Depression	9.03 (4.43–18.40)	8.97 (4.38–18.40)b

Answer 1

The odds of post-secondary education after randomization in the other variables were 53% less than with the true population effect between 0.28 and 0.80. This result was statistically significant.

The odds of employment after randomization in the other variables were 32% less than with the true population effect between 0.39 and 1.19. This result was statistically significant.

The odds of Illicit drug use after randomization in the other variables were 2.42 less than with the true population effect between 1.18 and 4.96. This result was statistically significant.

Smoking, Alcohol, Illicit drug use, Adverse medication side effects and Depression are not statistical significant variable whereas other remaining variables are significant becuase When the 95% CI of the OR does not include 1, we conclude it is a significant association. In this context ORs < 1 are protective, > 1 are harmful.