Media
Statistics
And putting context to the numbers
Edward Fidgeon-Kavanagh

The Media is full of headlines quoting various
“shocking” statistics

The Media is full of headlines quoting various
“shocking” statistics

The Media is full of headlines quoting various
“shocking” statistics

But what do the percentages really mean?
And is there a more relevant way we could
be describing this information
The examples used over the next few slides are not intended to represent hard
medical facts about the conditions in question, and are merely being used to illustrate
the argument of contextual numbers over percentages... So if you happen to be a
doctor, nurse, scientist or very smart person and happen to find any inaccuracies with
the next few slides... I’m sorry... Not really though

1. Bacon increases risk of
Colorectal cancer by 20%
But how bad is that?

1. Bacon increases risk of
Colorectal cancer by 20%
About 5 out of 100 people develop Colorectal
cancer.

1. Bacon increases risk of
Colorectal cancer by 20%
If all 100 ate 3 extra rashers every day... The
number would rise to six

SO...
“Bacon increases risk of
Colorectal cancer by 20%”

SO...
“Bacon increases risk of
Colorectal cancer by 20%”
About 1 extra case per 100 people

2. One extra unit of alcohol a day increases
a woman's risk of breast cancer by 12%
But how bad is that?

2. One extra unit of alcohol a day increases
a woman's risk of breast cancer by 12%
But how bad is that?
About 10 out of 100 women have breast cancer in
a lifetime.

2. One extra unit of alcohol a day increases
a woman's risk of breast cancer by 12%
But how bad is that?
If all 100 drink an extra unit a day, that number
rises to 11.

SO...
“One extra unit of alcohol per day increases
a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 12%”

SO...
“One extra unit of alcohol per day increases
a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 12%”
About 1 extra case per 100 women

3. Just two units a day reduces risk
of heart disease by 17%
But how GOOD is that?

3. Just two units a day reduces risk
of heart disease by 17%
But how GOOD is that?
About 32 out of 100 women have coronary heart
disease in a lifetime.

3. Just two units a day reduces risk
of heart disease by 17%
But how GOOD is that?
If all 100 were to drink 2 units of alcohol every
day, that number would fall to 27

SO...
“Just two units of alcohol a day reduces
risk of heart disease by 17%”

SO...
“Just two units of alcohol a day reduces
risk of heart disease by 17%”
About 5 fewer cases per 100 women

So... depending on the story
20% can be equal to ONE
person in a HUNDRED

So... depending on the story
20% can be equal to ONE
person in a HUNDRED
12% can be equal to ONE
person in a HUNDRED

So... depending on the story
20% can be equal to ONE
person in a HUNDRED
12% can be equal to ONE
person in a HUNDRED
17% can be equal to FIVE
people in a HUNDRED

Therefore...
% figures without some sort of
context are meaningless

Therefore...
% figures without some sort of
context are meaningless
Statistics dealing with health need to be though
of in absolute numbers of lives affected, rather
than percentages

Therefore...
% figures without some sort of
context are meaningless
Statistics dealing with health need to be though
of in absolute numbers of lives affected, rather
than percentages
Although percentages might be important to
certain parties, “The rest of us, who might rely on
the news for guidance, deserve something
more relevant. (M. Blastland)

Based on the material of Michael Blastland of the

www.cube1986.blogspot.com
Edward Fidgeon Kavanagh
E: edward.fidgeon-kavanagh@hotmail.com