Treatment for Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a condition in which people experience decreased bone mass and an increase in the risk of bone fracture. Actonel is a drug that helps combat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. In clinical trials, 1374 postmenopausal women were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The subjects in the experimental group were administered 5 milligrams (mg) of Actonel, while the subjects in the control group were administered a placebo. The number of women who experienced a bone fracture over the course of one year was recorded. Of the 696 women in the experimental group, 27 experienced a fracture during the course of the year. Of the 678 women in the control group, 49 experienced a fracture during the course of the year.  
b. The experiment was double-blind. What does this mean?  

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of a double-blind experiment: In a double-blind study, neither the participants nor the researchers administering the treatment know who is receiving the experimental treatment and who is receiving the placebo.
2. Recognize the purpose of a double-blind design: This method is used to prevent bias in the results, ensuring that the expectations of both the participants and the researchers do not influence the outcomes or the way data is recorded.
3. Apply this to the given problem: Since the experiment was double-blind, the women in both the experimental and control groups did not know whether they were receiving Actonel or a placebo, and the researchers who interacted with the participants also did not know which treatment each participant was receiving.
4. Note that this helps maintain the integrity of the clinical trial by reducing placebo effects and observer bias, leading to more reliable and valid results.
5. Summarize: Therefore, a double-blind experiment means that both the subjects and the experimenters are unaware of the group assignments during the study.

Key Concepts

Double-Blind Experiment

A double-blind experiment is a study design where neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the treatment or the placebo. This approach helps prevent bias in treatment administration and outcome assessment, ensuring that the results are more reliable and objective.

Randomization

Randomization is the process of assigning participants to different groups by chance, reducing selection bias. It ensures that the experimental and control groups are comparable, so differences in outcomes can be attributed to the treatment rather than other factors.

Placebo Control Group

A placebo control group receives an inactive substance designed to mimic the treatment without its therapeutic effect. This group serves as a baseline to compare the actual drug's effectiveness, helping to isolate the drug's impact from psychological or other external influences.