Further study of the data showed that this conclusion was wrong. The extra deaths among patients treated with the new method could be explained by lurking variables. Identify a lurking variable that might be confounded with a doctor's choice of surgical or nonsurgical treatment.

A large study used records from Canada's national health care system to compare the effectiveness of two ways to treat prostate disease. The two treatments are traditional surgery and a new method that does not require surgery. The records described many patients whose doctors had chosen one or the other method. The study found that patients treated by the new method were significantly more likely to die within eight years.

Further study of the data showed that this conclusion was wrong. The extra deaths among patients treated with the new method could be explained by lurking variables.
Identify a lurking variable that might be confounded with a doctor's choice of surgical or nonsurgical treatment.



A.
Choice of the patient's relatives
B.
Non-availability of surgical instruments
C.
Patient's chance of survival


Answer: C.
Patient's chance of survival


Learn More :