A simple table

Reproduced from Hawley, S.T., Zikmund-Fisher, B., Ubel, P., Jancovic, A., Lucas, T., &Fagerlin, A. 2008. The impact of the format of graphical presentation on health-related knowledge and treatment choices. Patient EducCouns, 73, (3) 448-455.

The table above shows the increased risk of headaches and nausea in the group of people who took pills. Tables are usually referred by their number of rows and columns, and so the table above is a 2*3 table.The numerical presentation of information as a proportion out of 100 people can influence individual's perception on the benefits or risks of a treatment. Any misunderstanding of the chosen numerical presentation of a benefit-risk metric could lead to an incorrect interpretation and the potential for erroneous treatment decisions.