Deck 8: Practicing Evidence-Based Decision Making

Question 1

A nurse manager attempts to explain why the greatest number of medication errors occurs during the evening shift. The nurse manager chooses a quasi-experimental design to study this relationship. Why did the nurse manager choose this type of research design?

A) It does not allow for complete control over the variance.
B) It allows for randomization.
C) It allows for control over the independent variable.
D) It requires manipulation of the variable.

Answer 1

A
In quasi-experimental designs, strict control is not possible. Allowing for randomization and for control over the independent variable and requiring the manipulation of the variable are true of experimental studies.

Question 2

Characteristics of a quantitative study include all of the following except:

A) clarifies underlying assumptions.
B) asks who, what, why, where, when, or how.
C) describes the relationship between variables.
D) is highly structured and controlled.

Answer 2

A
A quantitative study asks the question who, what, why, where, when, or how and attempts to describe the relationship between one variable and another. A quantitative study plan is also highly structured and controlled. A qualitative study tries to clarify underlying assumptions that are vague or unclear by asking what the perceptions, beliefs, or tenets are within a particular setting.

Question 3

Several sections are included in a research article. For example, the methods section describes the research study and what assessment quality and criteria were used. What information does the abstract or introduction section include?

A) An evidence summary from the results of several other studies
B) An outline of the number of studies retrieved and excluded and respective reasons for their inclusions or exclusions
C) A discussion about whether the results are heterogeneous with possible reasons
D) A clearly stated review question

Answer 3

D
The review question should be clearly stated in the title, the abstract, or final paragraph of the introduction. The summary section provides an evidence summary from the results of several studies. The results section outlines the number of studies retrieved, excluded, and why. The data/analysis section states whether the results are heterogeneous and discusses possible reasons.

Question 4

Which question should the nurse ask in order to judge the validity of a research study?

A) What reliability information has been provided?
B) Are the instrument measures applied consistently?
C) Does the instrument measure what it is supposed to measure?
D) How much random error exists?

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of direct research utilization?

A) Advocating for a change in policy
B) Basing practice on current research available
C) Implementing new techniques for practice
D) Critiquing a research study

Question 6

Assess the given levels of evidence and choose the one most important when evaluating the strength of a research study.

A) Level 3 evidence indicates that specific-quality criteria were met.
B) Level 1 evidence implies an association with specific criteria.
C) Level 1 evidence indicates that specific-quality criteria were met.
D) Level 2 evidence implies a reliable association with specific criteria.

Question 7

If you had access to the following databases for your research, which would you choose to review clinical trials on effective smoking cessation therapies?

A) The Cochrane Library
B) HealthStar
C) Medline
D) InfoPOEMS

Question 8

Which step does a researcher first use when starting a new study?

A) Data collection
B) Refining an abstract idea
C) Literature review
D) Statistical analysis

Question 9

The process of understanding and applying researched clinical evidence to nursing practice requires the nurse to become information literate. Which action by the nurse best describes the use of information literacy?

A) Identifies a specific clinical problem, accesses appropriate resources, and assesses the relevancy of use of information for that particular patient's problem
B) Identifies a particular patient problem and immediately notifies the physician and family for treatment
C) Identifies the lack of research skills and consults a librarian for a workshop on conducting research studies
D) Identifies the lack of research skills and consults a scientific researcher to teach basic computer information

Question 10

The nurse wants to know how similar the 7-minute screen (7MS) is to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in accurately screening for dementia. Can you distinguish the correct clinical question category for this type of question?

A) Prognosis
B) Diagnostic
C) Harm/etiology
D) Prevention

Question 11

The nurse manager wants to determine the cause of an increase in medication errors over the past 6 months. This is an example of which type of research?

A) Experimental
B) Trial and error
C) Quality assurance
D) Scientific

Question 12

A nurse evaluates the results of two different studies examining the relationship between time of day and sundowning in the geriatric setting. After 1 month, the nurse realizes that there is a difference of 1 hour in the instruments used for measurement. What conclusion can be drawn about the type of threat this causes the study?

A) Validity
B) Reliability
C) Causality
D) Truthfulness

Question 13

The nurse questions whether treatment with antibiotic therapy is as effective as observation in a 3-year-old boy with otitis media. What combination of information supports the proper order of information needed to compose a PICO statement?

A) Effective treatment for otitis media; antibiotic therapy; observation; 3-year-old with otitis media
B) Three-year-old with otitis media; antibiotic therapy; observation; effective treatment for otitis media
C) Antibiotic therapy; 3-year-old with otitis media; effective treatment for otitis media; observation
D) Observation; 3-year-old with otitis media; effective treatment for otitis media; antibiotic therapy

Question 14

Can you explain how the nurse's use of PICO helps to formulate an effective clinical question?

A) PICO organizes the elements that guide the clinical question.
B) PICO formulates an answer to the clinical question.
C) PICO explains the hierarchy of evidence.
D) PICO identifies the strength of the evidence.

Question 15

What is the relationship between the design and layout when creating a critical appraisal tool?

A) Design and layout differ but measure the same areas.
B) Design and layout differ, and reliability measures differ.
C) Design, layout, and reliability are similar but relevancy differs.
D) Design, layout, and reliability differ but trustworthiness is the same.

Question 16

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) developed the Magnet Recognition Program for hospitals to address quality patient care. What is the significance of achieving magnet status?

A) Excellence in quality patient care and recruitment and retention of nurses
B) Excellence in research, patient care, and retention of physicians
C) Excellence in recruiting nurses, early discharge, and effective billing
D) Excellence in recruitment and retention of ancillary caregivers

Question 17

The nurse is interested in whether antibiotic therapy or observation only is most effective in the treatment of sinusitis in young adults. Which of the following best describes the type of question being considered?

A) Background questions
B) Foreground questions
C) General knowledge questions
D) Both A and B.

Question 18

The chief purpose of evidence-based practice is to

A) offer a problem-solving approach to systematically research clinical evidence directed toward a specific patient problem.
B) prepare the nurse to conduct specific research in patient care practices.
C) prepare the nurse for employment in an evidence-based research center.
D) research clinical evidence that covers the entire aspect of a specific problem.

Question 19

Which statement reflects an important principle to be applied by the nurse who is developing a relevant clinical question regarding a specific patient concern, using PICO?

A) The type of question will determine which resources to access.
B) A systematic approach determines which questions will be asked.
C) The clinical question is formulated at the conclusion of the literature search.
D) Background questions are identified at the conclusion of the literature search.

Question 20

Which of the following are most responsible for the emerging use of evidence-based practice (EBP) in health care? (Select all that apply.)

A) Accountability by consumers of governmental and health care agencies
B) Introduction of national health care guidelines
C) Shorter implementation time of new research
D) Variability of care among health care practitioners and facilities
E) Similarity with other science disciplines and their amounts of research
F) Eligibility to receive government grants for research excellence

Question 21

Research studies must be scrutinized to be deemed credible and trustworthy. Choose all the strategies that may be used to critically appraise a research study. (Select all that apply.)

A) Examine the validity of the research.
B) Look at the reference list of the study.
C) Look for criteria of inclusion.
D) Look for use of PICO format.
E) Examine the credentials of the authors.
F) Look for a proper sample size.

Question 22

What characteristics support evidence-based practice (EBP)? (Select all that apply.)

A) The nurse's clinical experience is fundamental to the evidence-based practice process.
B) Evidence-based practice provides a theoretical framework for accuracy and safety in patient care.
C) Evidence-based practice involves the use of a holistic approach to patient care in health care.
D) Evidence-based practice is designed to create a generic plan of patient care in clinical settings.
E) Evidence-based practice allows the nurse autonomy in patient care because research proves success.

Question 23

Which goals best justify the need for evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing? (Select all that apply.)

A) Redesign the health care system and recruit more nurses.
B) Improve patient outcomes with evaluations that track outcomes.
C) Introduce national health care guidelines and standards.
D) Restructure health care delivery and improve quality of health care.
E) Apply clinical experience to improve patient care.

Question 24

What are the problems with variables? (Select all that apply.)

A) Vary from subject to subject
B) Determined through statistics
C) Difficult to account for them
D) Challenging to explain in relation to the study topic
E) Testing whether a correlation exists between results