Biostatistics & Study Design USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A trial of 12,000 adults with chronic low back pain compares a new exercise app with standard counseling. Mean pain score improves by 0.2 points on a 10 point scale in the app group, with p = 0.001. Patients report that a change of at least 1.5 points is needed to feel meaningfully better. Which conclusion is most appropriate?
Answer choices
- AThe intervention is neither clinically nor statistically significant
- BThe p value proves the effect is important to patients
- CThe intervention is clinically and statistically significant
- DThe intervention is statistically significant but may not be clinically meaningfulCorrect answer
- EThe intervention is clinically significant but not statistically significant
- FThe intervention is clinically meaningful despite a lack of statistical significance
See the full explanation
Get the correct-answer rationale, why each distractor is wrong, the underlying mechanism, and high-yield associations — plus adaptive practice that targets your weak areas — with a free MedBoardPRO account.