BGS GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE

Practical Problems with Solution

10. In a journal on Geriatrics, it is reported that 40% of the old age population (above
60 years of age) suffers from arthritis. In a study conducted in the Geriatrics homes
of Bangalore South by taking a sample of 100, the complaint of arthritis, reported in
20% only. Test statistically, whether the difference in percentage differ significantly.
At 5% critical value of 1.96

Solution:
Hypothesis: Mean birth weight of the study group differs significantly with that of the
Harvard standard
Null Hypothesis: H0 : The Percentage of arthritis cases in the study group = Percentage
reported in the Geriatric Journal (known percentage)
Alternative Hypothesis: H1 : The Percentage of arthritis cases in the study group ≠
Percentage reported in the Geriatric Journal (known percentage)
Test Statistic: Since sample size is > 30, with one sample proportions, We can apply Z-
test for one sample proportions.
|P−p|
Z=
p∗q
√ n
P = Population proportions = 40%; p = Sample proportions = 20%; n=100
q=100-p =100-20 = 80%
|40−20|
Z=
20∗80
√ 100
Z = 5 (Z Calculated value)
Level of Significance: 5%
Table Value: Z table value at 5% = 1.96
Conclusion: Since Calculated value (5) > (1.96) Table value
Null hypothesis is rejected and test is statistically significant. (p<0.05)
The Percentage of arthritis cases in the study group ≠ Percentage reported in the Geriatric
Journal (known percentage). i.e., The sample estimate is not equal to the percentage of
arthritis cases reported, it appears that there is reduction of arthritis cases, in the present
study.