A pharmaceutical company researcher reviews only published studies on a new drug and finds it significantly effective. However, several negative studies were never published. This introduces which type of bias?

• A Publication bias ✓
• B Recall bias
• C Hawthorne effect
• D Lead-time bias

Explanation

Publication bias occurs when studies with positive or significant results are more likely to be published than negative or null findings, leading to an overestimation of treatment efficacy in systematic reviews. Funnel plot asymmetry is used to detect publication bias in meta-analyses. Recall bias involves differential recall between cases and controls; lead-time bias refers to apparent survival improvement from earlier diagnosis without change in natural history.

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

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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