116 Questions
What is one of the limitations mentioned regarding the use of evidence alone in medical studies?
Improvement seen on average may not translate to benefiting every patient
What is the third step in the process of Evidence-Informed Practice (EIP) according to the text?
Critically appraise/evaluate the evidence
Why is critical appraisal considered essential in understanding and applying research properly?
To ensure proper application of research findings
What is a common issue highlighted in the section about funding in medical trials?
Statistically significant pro-industry findings due to industry funding
What is the key factor in bias according to the text?
Systematic
Why do exciting headlines like 'Study reveals that smelling your partner's farts is the secret to a longer life' pose a challenge?
They are aimed at generating attention rather than ensuring accuracy
'Doesn’t capture significance, meaning to the patient' refers to a limitation of relying solely on:
Evidence
Which type of bias involves the difficulty in accurate recollection when asked about past events?
Recall bias
In terms of causation, what principle refers to the cause preceding the effect?
Temporality
Which relationship provides good evidence of a cause/effect relationship based on varying amounts of cause resulting in varying amounts of the effect?
Dose-response relationship
What type of study may have limitations in determining temporality according to the text?
Cross-sectional study
Which principle of causation emphasizes that a stronger association provides better evidence of a cause/effect relationship?
Strength
What term did Archie Cochrane introduce in 1992 to shift decision-making in medicine?
Evidence-Based Medicine
What was the time gap between the introduction of 'Evidence-Based Medicine' and its implementation in practice?
17 years
What is the main objective of Evidence-Based Medicine?
To base decisions on systematic review of evidence
What did the term 'Evidence-Informed Practice' aim to address?
To shift decision making from intuition to evidence
Which term refers to the need to critically evaluate published health research?
Critical appraisal
What concept refers to mistakenly attributing a relationship between variables due to a third factor?
Correlation
What type of bias is described in the scenario where participants in the treatment group spend significantly more time with researchers compared to the control group?
Performance bias
In which scenario might participants who have a negative reaction or no benefit from the study treatment drop out more often than those who find the treatment helpful?
Attrition bias
What type of bias is highlighted in a study where more cases of skin cancer are discovered in patients who report working with radioactive material?
Detection bias
When participants are aware of being observed and modify their behavior as a result, which type of bias is at play?
Observation bias
Which type of bias might occur if a researcher genuinely believes that a particular drug will help treat psoriasis and underestimates the measurement of psoriasis skin lesions when aware of who received the real drug?
Observation bias
What type of bias is described when participants who experience different levels of care due to their group allocation may impact study outcomes?
Performance bias
What term refers to the phenomenon where heavy smokers are more likely to consume more alcohol, posing a risk of confounding in studies on cigarette smoking and lung cancer?
Reversibility
Which factor strengthens the cause for cause/effect when examining the relationship between cigarette ingredients and cancer based on our current knowledge of disease mechanisms?
Biological plausibility
In the context of cause and effect relationships, what does the absence of specificity indicate?
It weakens the evidence against the cause.
Which term refers to the phenomenon where one cause leads to one specific effect, such as vitamin C deficiency causing scurvy?
Specificity
What strengthens the relationship between cause and effect when there are examples of well-established causes that are similar to the one being studied?
Analogy
Why is consistency across various studies essential in establishing the link between a cause and its effects?
It helps confirm the validity of conclusions drawn.
Which statement accurately describes confounding in a study?
Confounding happens when an additional variable affects the dependent variable and leads to incorrect conclusions.
Which scenario illustrates reverse causality?
More drowning cases are linked to higher ice cream sales.
What does selection bias refer to in research studies?
Selection bias results from inadequate randomization causing systematic differences between groups.
Which factor makes establishing a causal relationship very difficult?
Random chance influencing study outcomes.
How does bias impact research conclusions?
Bias systematically distorts comparisons and influences conclusions.
Why is causation generally difficult to prove?
Causation is complex and often affected by confounding variables.
What was the purpose of introducing the term 'Evidence-Based Medicine' in 1992?
To increase the use of scientific, clinically relevant research in decision-making.
Which of the following best describes the research/practice gap that existed after the introduction of 'Evidence-Based Medicine'?
17 years
What concept does 'Evidence-Informed Practice' aim to tackle?
Reliance on intuition and clinical experience
What was Archie Cochrane's view on treatment decision-making before the introduction of 'Evidence-Based Medicine'?
It was mostly not based on systematic review of evidence.
Which term was introduced by Archie Cochrane in 1992 to change the landscape of decision-making in medicine?
'Evidence-Based Practice'
What was identified as one of the primary benefits of 'Evidence-Based Medicine' in the text?
Shifting decision-making towards scientifically sound research.
What is the significance of temporality in establishing causation?
It indicates that the cause preceded the effect.
In terms of bias, what issue does attrition refer to?
Participants dropping out of a study due to negative outcomes
What does the principle of reversibility state in terms of causation?
Once a cause is removed, the effect must disappear.
Why is consistency crucial in establishing causation across different studies?
To confirm the relationship between cause and effect is not due to chance.
What is the key factor that strengthens the cause for a cause/effect relationship?
Biological plausibility based on current knowledge
Why does a dose-response relationship provide good evidence of a cause/effect relationship?
Because varying amounts of the cause result in varying amounts of the effect.
Which of the following is NOT listed as an argument against using clinical experience alone in the text?
Facilitates efficient use of resources
What is an argument FOR relying more on evidence-based practices according to the text?
Enhanced communication and collaboration among professions
Which statement aligns with the argument against practitioners relying solely on proven effective modalities?
May reduce treatment options for modalities under study
What is a concern mentioned in the text about exclusively using modalities or treatments proven effective by empirical means?
Undermines naturopathic philosophy of individualization
Which aspect is highlighted as a limitation when a practitioner solely uses treatments proven effective by empirical means?
'Lost art' of individualization in care
Which argument is not listed as a reason to avoid biases from clinical experience alone according to the text?
'Just google it' approach for sourcing information
What term refers to the concept that one cause leads to one specific effect, such as vitamin C deficiency causing scurvy?
Specificity
In the context of causal relationships, which principle is exemplified when people who quit smoking still have low cancer risk?
Reversibility
Which aspect of cause and effect relationships emphasizes that the relationship should be consistent with our current understanding of disease mechanisms?
Biological plausibility
What strengthens the link between cause and effect when there are well-established causes analogous to the one under study?
Analogy
Which type of relationship is weakened when there is more than one effect attributed to a single cause?
Specificity
When considering the association between cigarette ingredients and cancer in cell cultures and animal models, which factor provides strong evidence for causation?
Biological plausibility
When assessing the quality of different types of research designs, what is a key consideration for determining their relevance to practice and individual patients?
Relevance to current understanding of disease mechanisms
Which type of study methodology typically involves doing something to the patient and observing the outcomes?
Randomized controlled trials
In the hierarchy of evidence, which type of study is considered the highest quality based on the methodology hierarchy mentioned in the text?
Randomized controlled trials
What is a significant strength of systematic reviews compared to other types of clinical epidemiological studies?
Comprehensive analysis of existing research
When faced with conflicting information from different types of research, what should be a primary focus for a researcher or practitioner?
Assessing the relevance of each study to practice
What type of blinding is achieved when the person delivering the intervention and the person assessing the outcome are both unaware of the participant's group?
Double blind
Which factor can influence the sample in a study based on the method of recruitment?
Newspaper ad readership
What does the term 'generalizability' in research refer to?
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Why is clear reporting of the planned measurements (methods) in the results section important for research studies?
To ensure transparency
What is the primary purpose of a power calculation in a research study?
To estimate sample size needed
What is a potential challenge when applying non-pill interventions in research studies?
Addressing rare or distant outcomes
In terms of Jadad scale for reporting randomized controlled trials, how many points are assigned for blinding?
2 points
What is a potential limitation of cross-over intervention studies?
Necessity for a treatment washout period
Which type of intervention study involves participants choosing between different treatment options?
Preference-controlled study
In the context of intervention studies, what design involves assessing changes before and after the intervention where participants are aware of the treatment?
Pre/post design
What type of relationship is minimized in preference-controlled intervention studies where participants choose between treatments?
Selection bias
What type of study design is characterized by comparing individuals with and without cardiovascular disease to investigate current meat intake?
Cross-sectional study
In observational studies, what is a major limitation due to participants not being randomly assigned to exposure groups?
Selection bias
What is a strength of case reports and case series in medical research?
They can lead to further medical actions
What aspect of observational studies allows them to be less expensive or faster than intervention studies?
Non-random assignment to exposure groups
What is a critical consideration when appraising the quality of observational studies with respect to exposure assessment?
Measurement or classification bias
What distinguishes N of 1 studies from other types of research designs?
Multiple crossover comparisons in an individual patient
What is the main focus of observational studies where exposure is not controlled by the researcher?
Examining the relationship between a risk factor and an outcome
In a cohort study, what is the primary objective when recruiting the cohort?
To assess risk/health factors before the outcome is present
What characteristic distinguishes a cross-sectional study from a case-control study?
Assessing current disease status and exposure levels
Which study design compares participants with a specific exposure to those without that exposure over time?
Cohort study
In the context of observational studies, what does 'prospective' refer to?
Following participants over time from the beginning
What differentiates cohort studies from case-control studies in terms of participant selection?
Cohort studies focus on groups with similar exposures
What is the primary focus of experimental/intervention studies?
Changing the likelihood of outcomes by treating the patient
In clinical epidemiological studies, what is a key factor for assessing quality based on design and relevance to practice/patients?
Generalizability
What distinguishes randomized controlled trials from case-control studies?
Comparison of participants with and without exposure
Which study methodology involves 'doing something to the patient' to observe outcomes?
Whole systems research
What is the primary objective when recruiting a cohort for a study?
Observing participants with a specific exposure over time
What is the primary focus of observational studies where exposure is not controlled by the researcher?
Assessing the relationship between a risk factor and an outcome
In a cohort study, what is the main objective when assessing risk/health factors?
Creating a comparison group for the cohort
What distinguishes a longitudinal cohort study from cross-sectional and case-control studies?
Following participants over time for outcome development
Why is confounding a major concern in observational studies without exposure control?
It can lead to inaccurate associations between risk factors and outcomes
What distinguishes cross-sectional studies from cohort studies in terms of assessing the relationship between exposure and outcome?
Comparison of current disease status and current exposure
How is a case-control study different from a cohort study when comparing participants?
Focus on prior exposure in diseased individuals
What is the primary focus of a narrative review?
Focus on individual research studies in detail
What is the main limitation highlighted about pre-clinical evidence in the text?
Lack of generalizability to humans
In research, why are systematic reviews considered more reliable than narrative reviews?
They incorporate explicit and rigorous methods for data analysis
What is a key consideration when monitoring patient response in a clinical setting?
Documenting risks and benefits
Why is it important to consider the dose when evaluating the effects of soy phytoestrogen on breast cancer treatment?
To establish the maximum safe dosage for humans
What distinguishes a narrative review from a systematic review in terms of methodology?
Narrative reviews incorporate explicit methods while systematic reviews do not
What is the main purpose of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) according to the text?
To confirm cause/effect relationships
Why is randomization essential in a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)?
To account for confounding factors like placebo effects
How is blinding beneficial in a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)?
To reduce the bias caused by participants' expectations
What method is considered ideal for achieving random assignment in a study?
Computer-generated sequence
Why is it necessary to describe how randomization was done in a study?
To ensure validity and transparency of the research
What is the primary purpose of having a control group in a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)?
To provide a basis for comparison with the treatment group
What is the primary difference between Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and naturopathic medicine in terms of interventions?
RCTs involve uniform interventions, while naturopathic medicine uses individualized interventions
In whole practice/systems research, what is the goal of a WSR trial design?
To study an entire system of care as it is practiced in the real world
What type of study design involves assessing changes before and after the intervention, where participants are aware of the treatment?
Intervention Study
When comparing individualized acupuncture treatments to testing 3 set acupuncture points, what type of study methodology is being employed?
Intervention Study
Which methodology focuses on the assessment of an entire system of medicine versus individual therapy?
Intervention Study
Test your knowledge on Evidence-Based Medicine, the scientific method, critical appraisal of health research, causation and correlation. Explore the underlying concepts of Evidence-Based Medicine and the scientific method in clinical practice.
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