HSRT Interpreting Meaning and Significance of Information

Question 1

A passage states, 'The results were statistically significant but the effect size was very small.' What is the best interpretation?

Accepted Answer

The effect is probably real but may be too small to matter clinically.

Answer

Statistical significance means the result is unlikely to be chance, but a tiny effect size may have little practical or clinical importance.

Question 2

A lab report lists a patient's potassium level as 5.9 mmol/L with a reference range of 3.5-5.0 mmol/L. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

The potassium level is above the reference range.

Answer

5.9 is higher than the upper limit of 5.0, so the value is elevated relative to the reference range.

Question 3

A text says, 'Symptoms may be nonspecific in early disease.' What does 'nonspecific' most nearly mean here?

Accepted Answer

Not clearly pointing to one particular condition

Answer

Nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue, can occur in many conditions and so do not identify a single cause.

Question 4

A study abstract says a drug 'reduced the risk of stroke by 50%' but the absolute risk fell from 2% to 1%. Which interpretation is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The relative risk dropped by half, but the absolute reduction is only 1 percentage point.

Answer

A fall from 2% to 1% is a 50% relative reduction but only a 1 percentage-point absolute reduction. Reporting only the relative figure can overstate the benefit.

Question 5

A patient information sheet says, 'Take with food to minimize stomach upset.' What is the most reasonable interpretation?

Accepted Answer

Taking the medication alongside a meal is expected to reduce gastric irritation.

Answer

'Minimize' signals that the food is meant to lessen an anticipated side effect, irritation of the stomach.

HSRT - Health Sciences Reasoning Test Practice Test

HSRT - Health Sciences Reasoning Test Practice Test

HSRT Interpreting Meaning and Significance of Information