Biostatistics & Study Design USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A Phase III trial randomizes 300 participants with stage III non-small cell lung cancer in a 2:1 ratio (200 to new tyrosine kinase inhibitor versus 100 to standard chemotherapy). Baseline characteristics: mean age 62, BP 128/82, HR 88, RR 16, SpO2 98% on room air. Baseline staging CT shows T3N2M0 disease. No prior chemotherapy exposure. Compared with 1:1 randomization at identical total sample size, which statistical consequence is most likely?
Answer choices
- AGreater power for the same total sample size
- BHigher specificity of the endpoint
- CReduced need for blinding
- DElimination of confounding
- ELower power for the same total sample sizeCorrect answer
- FIncreased precision of the treatment effect estimate
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