Final answer:
The risk difference calculation for two groups regarding the effectiveness of daily PPI usage in preventing GERD resulted in a small difference of 0.0113, suggesting that PPI is not significantly effective.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is Medicine, specifically related to the use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and their effectiveness in preventing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). To answer if PPI is uneffective q daily, we'll need to calculate the risk difference between the two groups in the provided study. Group one consists of 43 participants who took PPI daily, and group two consists of 39 participants who did not take PPI. After 3 months, 6 people from the PPI group developed GERD while 5 from the non-PPI group developed GERD.
To calculate the risk difference, we compare the incidence of GERD in both groups. The risk of developing GERD in the PPI group is 6/43, and the risk in the no PPI group is 5/39. The risk difference is calculated as:
Risk difference = Risk in the PPI group - Risk in the no PPI group
Risk difference = (6/43) - (5/39) = 0.1395 - 0.1282 = 0.0113
Therefore, the risk difference is approximately 0.0113. This small difference suggests that taking PPI daily does not significantly reduce the risk for developing GERD compared to not taking PPI. It is important to consult healthcare professionals before drawing conclusions, as more factors than just the PPI usage may contribute to the development of GERD.