Table 1.
Case scenarios and questions presented to subjects. A random selection of six cases was presented to each subject in the study.
| CaseScenario and Question (Scenario Name) | Expected Correct Answer |
| 1. We hear of people going on low carbohydrate and high protein diets, such as the Atkins diet, to lose weight. Is there evidence to support that low carbohydrate, high protein diets result in greater long-term weight loss than conventional low energy, low fat diets? (Diet) | No |
| 2. You can catch infectious diseases such as the flu from inhaling the air into which others have sneezed or coughed, sharing a straw, or eating off someone else’s fork. The reason is because certain germs reside in saliva, as well as in other bodily fluids. Hepatitis B is an infectious disease. Can you catch Hepatitis B from kissing on the cheek? (Hepatitis B) | No |
| 3. After having a few alcoholic drinks, we depend on our liver to reduce the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). Drinking coffee, eating, vomiting, sleeping, or having a shower will not help reduce your BAC. Are there different recommendations regarding safe alcohol consumption for males and females? (Alcohol) | Yes |
| 4. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as “cot death,” is the unexpected death of a baby where there is no apparent cause of death. Studies have shown that sleeping on the stomach increases a baby’s risk of SIDS. Is there an increased risk of a baby dying from SIDS if the mother smokes during pregnancy? (SIDS) | Yes |
| 5. Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer found in women. Is there an increased chance of developing breast cancer for women who have a family history of breast cancer? (Breast cancer) | Yes |
| 6. Men are encouraged by our culture to be tough. Unfortunately, many men tend to think that asking for help is a sign of weakness. In Australia, do more men die by committing suicide than women? (Suicide) | Yes |
| 7. Many people use home therapies when they are sick or to keep healthy. Examples of home therapies include drinking chicken soup when sick, drinking milk before bed for a better night’s sleep, and taking vitamin C to prevent the common cold. Is there evidence to support the taking of vitamin C supplements to help prevent the common cold? (Cold) | No |
| 8. We know that we can catch AIDS from bodily fluids, such as from needle sharing, having unprotected sex, and breast-feeding. We also know that some diseases can be transmitted by mosquito bites. Is it likely that we can get AIDS from a mosquito bite? (AIDS) | No |