How do we know if something makes us better or worse?

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Have you ever taken medicine or had a vaccination or an operation? Did it help? Were there any side effects? How do you know that?

• Format Lessons
• Language/s English
• Target Audience Schools
• EBM Stage 0 - Why EBM?
• Duration 5-15 mins
• Difficulty Introductory

Key Concepts addressed

• 2-1a Comparison groups should be similar
• 2-1d People should not know which treatment they get
• 1-1a Treatments can harm
• 1-2c Association is not the same as causation
• 1-2e Comparisons are needed to identify treatment effects

Details

How do we know if works?

• Have you ever taken medicine or had a vaccination or an operation? Do you know someone who has had an operation or acupuncture or used something like an herbal remedy or homeopathy?
  
• Did it help? Were there any side effects? How do you know that?

Work sheet – Do bright Smarties help you or hurt you?