Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real CET practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice flashcards as text
A prospective study on diastolic dysfunction has an attrition rate of 35% at 5-year follow-up. Which bias is MOST likely introduced?
Answer: Attrition bias (loss to follow-up bias)
High attrition rates introduce attrition bias because participants who drop out may differ systematically from those who remain.
In a study comparing 2D and 3D echo for LV volume assessment, the Bland-Altman plot shows a mean bias of +8 mL. What does this indicate?
Answer: 3D echo overestimates volumes by 8 mL on average compared to 2D
A mean bias of +8 mL indicates that one method (typically listed second) measures 8 mL higher on average than the reference method.
Which research design provides the STRONGEST evidence for establishing causation between a cardiac exposure and an echocardiographic outcome?
Answer: Double-blind randomized controlled trial
The double-blind RCT is the gold standard for establishing causation because randomization controls for confounders and blinding reduces performance and detection bias.
A CET participates in a quality improvement project tracking door-to-echo time in STEMI patients. This activity BEST represents which EBP component?
Answer: Implementing and evaluating evidence in practice
Tracking outcomes after implementing a practice change is the evaluation phase of EBP, confirming whether the intervention improves real-world results.
Which number best describes 'number needed to treat' (NNT) if a new echo-guided intervention reduces adverse cardiac events from 20% to 15%?
Answer: 20
NNT = 1 / (0.20 − 0.15) = 1 / 0.05 = 20, meaning 20 patients must be treated to prevent one additional adverse event.
Which source would provide the HIGHEST quality pre-appraised evidence for a CET seeking guidance on strain imaging reference values?
Answer: A Cochrane systematic review with meta-analysis
Cochrane systematic reviews with meta-analyses represent synthesized, rigorously appraised evidence at the top of the pre-appraised evidence hierarchy.
A researcher reports a 95% confidence interval for mean LVEF of [52%–58%]. Which interpretation is correct?
Answer: If repeated sampling occurred, 95% of such intervals would contain the true population mean
A 95% CI means that if the study were repeated many times, 95% of the calculated intervals would contain the true population parameter.