In a study reported in the July 2007 issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, researchers investigated whether veterans are more likely to commit suicide than nonveterans. They spent 12 years following 104,000 veterans who had served in the armed forces between 1917 and 1994, and compared them with 216,000 nonveterans. They found that 197 veterans and 311 nonveterans committed suicide.
1. Calculate the relative risk of committing suicide, comparing veterans to nonveterans.
2. Describe and justify the conclusion that you would draw from this study.
1. Calculate the relative risk of committing suicide, comparing veterans to nonveterans.
2. Describe and justify the conclusion that you would draw from this study.
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1 of 528 vets committed suicide, compared with 1 of 695 non-vets.
The suicide rate among vets is 1.89 per thousand, compared with 1.44 per thousand among non-vets.
The suicide rate among vets is 31.6% higher than among non-vets.
The arithmetic:
104,000 ÷ 197 = 527.9
216,000 ÷ 311 = 694.5
197 • 1000 ÷ 104,000 = 1.89
311 • 1000 ÷ 216,000 = 1.44
1.89 • 100 ÷ 1.44 - 100 = 31.6%
The suicide rate among vets is 1.89 per thousand, compared with 1.44 per thousand among non-vets.
The suicide rate among vets is 31.6% higher than among non-vets.
The arithmetic:
104,000 ÷ 197 = 527.9
216,000 ÷ 311 = 694.5
197 • 1000 ÷ 104,000 = 1.89
311 • 1000 ÷ 216,000 = 1.44
1.89 • 100 ÷ 1.44 - 100 = 31.6%