This is perhaps the most ridiculous "study" I have read in months, if not years. The headline suggests causation where there is none. I am no fan of STLD plans and wish they didn't exist. But to even suggest there is causation is nothing other than misleading. Yes, ONE sentence says this is an "observational study with short follow ups."
Perhaps per capita sales of doughnuts or cigarettes could be the cause? Obesity rates? Percentage of cloudy days? .....Please.
Thanks for your comment. I was clear about the inability to conclude that there is causality here. As you note, this is an observational study, and analysis was done on a state level where there might have been many other confounding factors. I don't think that this study alone should convince employers to avoid STLDs. However, the results of this study are what we'd expect based on plan design and should encourage employers to act with caution.
This is perhaps the most ridiculous "study" I have read in months, if not years. The headline suggests causation where there is none. I am no fan of STLD plans and wish they didn't exist. But to even suggest there is causation is nothing other than misleading. Yes, ONE sentence says this is an "observational study with short follow ups."
Perhaps per capita sales of doughnuts or cigarettes could be the cause? Obesity rates? Percentage of cloudy days? .....Please.
Thanks for your comment. I was clear about the inability to conclude that there is causality here. As you note, this is an observational study, and analysis was done on a state level where there might have been many other confounding factors. I don't think that this study alone should convince employers to avoid STLDs. However, the results of this study are what we'd expect based on plan design and should encourage employers to act with caution.
Again, thanks for your careful read!