In a study comparing 5-year survival rates among 4 different chemotherapy regimens, which statistical test is MOST appropriate if survival times are not normally distributed?

• A One-way ANOVA
• B Paired t-test
• C Pearson's chi-square test
• D Kruskal-Wallis test ✓

Explanation

The Kruskal-Wallis test is the non-parametric equivalent of one-way ANOVA, used when the assumption of normality is violated and there are more than two independent groups. ANOVA requires normally distributed data. The paired t-test compares two related (not independent) groups. Chi-square is for categorical data, not continuous survival times. Kruskal-Wallis ranks the data across groups and tests whether samples originate from the same distribution.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.