Reference no: EM133582258

Question: You have been asked to investigate a new drug developed to relieve lower back pain. Please design an optimal intervention study (Phase III - clinical trial) and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. Background information:

• About 10% of U.S. adults report having at least one episode of severe back pain that altered their daily activities for at least 5 days during the past year

• About 3% of U.S. adults report having severe back pain during the past year that greatly altered their daily activities or ability to work for at least six weeks during the past year

• For minor back pain, the current pharmaceutical treatment options reduce the pain score by 50% and decrease the days-of-work missed by 30%

• For major back pain, the current pharmaceutical treatment options reduce the pain score by 20% and decrease the days-of-work missed by 10%

b) How would the treatment be administered in your experiment (you can assume the treatment is a pill) - What is administered, by whom, under what circumstances, etc.?

c) What outcome(s) would you collect or measure (and how would it (they) be collected or measured)?