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Hi Dr. Newman,
For Ch 8/9 HW, question 9-16 on suctioning to prevent MAS, do we assume that:
a) the OBs who demanded suctioning on the infants assigned to the no suction group did so only based on provider characteristics (i.e. certain OBs just did not follow protocol) OR
b) that they suctioned these infants assigned to the no suction group based on some other clinical information at the time that those infants were sicker and therefore needed suctioning in their evaluation?
Thanks!
*********Answer:
All we know is some obstetricians "demanded suctioning" on some infants assigned to the no suction group. I think it is reasonable to assume that if they were going to insist on suctioning EVERY infant they would not have participated in the trial, so presumably there were some characteristics of the infants on whom they refused to follow the "no suction" protocol that led to that decision.
I hope that helps!
Tom