In a randomized controlled trial on hypertension management, the blood pressure of participants in the control group improves significantly due to the awareness that they are being monitored. This phenomenon is called:
- A Placebo effect
- B Hawthorne effect ✓
- C Observer bias
- D Information bias
Correct answer: B. Hawthorne effect
Explanation
The Hawthorne effect describes a change in behavior or outcomes that occurs because participants know they are being observed or studied, independent of the actual intervention. This differs from the placebo effect, which is improvement due to receiving an inactive treatment. The Hawthorne effect can affect both treatment and control groups, potentially attenuating measured treatment differences.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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