When people used sunscreen as much as possible in a study, almost 1 in 3 of them got a rash — more than any other side effect.
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The claim is descriptive and reports observed frequencies from a clinical trial, which is a valid study design for documenting adverse events. The use of exact numbers (14/48, 29%) and specification of 'maximal application conditions' makes the claim precise and grounded in observed data. No causal inference is made, so the verb 'was' is appropriate. The claim does not overgeneralize beyond the study population or conditions.
More Accurate Statement
“Under maximal application conditions in a clinical trial, rash was the most commonly reported adverse event, occurring in 14 out of 48 participants (29%).”
Context Details
Domain
medicine
Population
human
Subject
Participants in a clinical trial of sunscreen use
Action
was
Target
rash, occurring in 14 of 48 participants (29%) under maximal application conditions
Intervention Details
Gold Standard Evidence Needed
According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Effect of Sunscreen Application on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.