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It would be great if every medication worked 100% of the time, but they don't.
The NNT (Number needed to treat) is a way to quantify how often the medication "works"
(caveat: what a drug "working" means is a whole other tweetorial/PhD dissertation!)
#SafeMedsBC
The NNT (Number needed to treat) is a way to quantify how often the medication "works"
(caveat: what a drug "working" means is a whole other tweetorial/PhD dissertation!)
#SafeMedsBC
To help us get our heads around the math of NNT... an analogy...
Imagine kids learning to read.
If you have 20 kids in a grade one class, by the end of the year, you might have 10 kids who can read. By the end of Grade 3, likely almost all will be able to read.
#SafeMedsBC
Imagine kids learning to read.
If you have 20 kids in a grade one class, by the end of the year, you might have 10 kids who can read. By the end of Grade 3, likely almost all will be able to read.
#SafeMedsBC
THE MATH PART:
20 kids x 3y = 60 kids, after 3 years ~60 can read
60 kids/60 readers = NNT of 1, ie every kid that you send to school for Grade 1-3 has a pretty good chance of learning to read (AMAZING!!)
#SafeMedsBC
20 kids x 3y = 60 kids, after 3 years ~60 can read
60 kids/60 readers = NNT of 1, ie every kid that you send to school for Grade 1-3 has a pretty good chance of learning to read (AMAZING!!)
#SafeMedsBC
OK... kids reading, great. Calculus is also good, what could we expect if taught in grade 1-3!!
After 3 years, how many kids will be able to do calculus?
maybe 1, if we are lucky...?
20 kids x 3y = 60 kids & 1 can do calculus
60 kids / 1 doing calculus, NNT = 60
#SafeMedsBC
After 3 years, how many kids will be able to do calculus?
maybe 1, if we are lucky...?
20 kids x 3y = 60 kids & 1 can do calculus
60 kids / 1 doing calculus, NNT = 60
#SafeMedsBC
So 1 kid can do Calculus and 59 kids can't.
Is there harm to those 59?
Maybe? They hate all math? They hate school?
Best we can hope for is that there was no effect.
NNT = 60 -> 1 gets effect, 59 get no effect (or harm)
#SafeMedsBC
Is there harm to those 59?
Maybe? They hate all math? They hate school?
Best we can hope for is that there was no effect.
NNT = 60 -> 1 gets effect, 59 get no effect (or harm)
#SafeMedsBC
Let's bring this back to MEDICINE #SafeMedsBC
a NNT of 1 = 100% effective, everyone we give it to gets the benefit!
(caveat: the HARMS of medications are not communicated in NNT, that is another concept, NNH (number needed to harm) not covered in this
tweetorial)
a NNT of 1 = 100% effective, everyone we give it to gets the benefit!
(caveat: the HARMS of medications are not communicated in NNT, that is another concept, NNH (number needed to harm) not covered in this
tweetorial)
General Anaesthetic has a NNT of ~1 (THANK GOODNESS!!)
Give 60 people general anaesthetic and ~60 people will get benefit (not poor operation man, below)
#SafeMedsBC
Give 60 people general anaesthetic and ~60 people will get benefit (not poor operation man, below)
#SafeMedsBC
Do you know what the NNT is of the medicines you take?
here is a tiny sample of NNT's...
What is meaningful to you? NNT =1, 2, 50, 100?
You could ask your doctor (at a special appointment, for just this) what s/he knows about the NNT for each of your pills.
#SafeMedsBC
here is a tiny sample of NNT's...
What is meaningful to you? NNT =1, 2, 50, 100?
You could ask your doctor (at a special appointment, for just this) what s/he knows about the NNT for each of your pills.
#SafeMedsBC
I just realized the math is wrong here. Blerg. 🤦🏼♀️
Concept exactly the same... but I should have said ... 3 classes of grade 1 kids, followed for 3 years =60 kids. We do not double (nor triple!) count same kids over longer time.
#BestIntentions
#multitaskingdoesnotwork
Concept exactly the same... but I should have said ... 3 classes of grade 1 kids, followed for 3 years =60 kids. We do not double (nor triple!) count same kids over longer time.
#BestIntentions
#multitaskingdoesnotwork
