Chamberlain NR 449
Evidence-Based
Practice Exam
Section 1: Foundational EBP Concepts & PICOT (Questions
1–20)
1. Which definition best describes Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?
A. The practice of medicine based on tradition and expert opinion
B. The integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
values
C. The use of a single research study to guide all clinical decisions
D. Following hospital policies without question
Rationale: EBP is explicitly defined as the integration of best research evidence with
clinical expertise and patient values to facilitate clinical decision-making. This definition
distinguishes EBP from research utilization, which focuses on implementing a single
study's findings .
2. In the PICOT framework, what does the "P" represent?
A. Problem
B. Patient population or problem
C. Process
D. Practice
,Rationale: "P" stands for Patient population or problem of interest. This identifies the
specific group of patients or the clinical issue being addressed .
3. In the PICOT framework, what does the "I" represent?
A. Investigation
B. Intervention
C. Implementation
D. Incidence
Rationale: "I" stands for Intervention—the treatment, exposure, or test being
considered. This is the action or approach being evaluated for its effectiveness .
4. In the PICOT framework, what does the "C" represent?
A. Control group
B. Comparison intervention
C. Clinical context
D. Cost effectiveness
Rationale: "C" stands for Comparison intervention—the alternative to the intervention
being studied. This could be standard care, a placebo, or another treatment approach .
5. In the PICOT framework, what does the "O" represent?
A. Organization
B. Outcome
C. Observation
D. Order of evidence
Rationale: "O" stands for Outcome—the expected result or effect of the intervention.
Outcomes should be measurable and clinically meaningful .
,6. In the PICOT framework, what does the "T" represent?
A. Timeframe
B. Treatment
C. Type of study
D. Total population
Rationale: "T" stands for Timeframe—the period over which the outcome is measured
(e.g., within 30 days, during hospitalization). Including a time element is crucial for
guiding the literature search and determining the relevance of outcomes .
7. A nurse formulates the following PICOT question: "In adult patients with
pressure injuries, does the use of a hydrocolloid dressing compared to saline-
moistened gauze reduce wound healing time within 4 weeks?" What does the "C"
represent?
A. Adult patients with pressure injuries
B. Reduce wound healing time
C. Saline-moistened gauze
D. Within 4 weeks
Rationale: P = adults with pressure injuries; I = hydrocolloid dressing; C = saline-
moistened gauze (the comparison); O = reduced healing time; T = within 4 weeks .
8. Which framework is used to construct clinical questions in EBP?
A. PICOT
B. SWOT
C. PDSA
D. SMART
Rationale: PICOT (Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time) is the
standard framework for formulating clinical questions in EBP .
, 9. What is the first step in the EBP process?
A. Searching electronic databases for relevant research studies
B. Asking a well-formed clinical question using PICOT format
C. Critically appraising the evidence for validity and applicability
D. Evaluating the outcomes of the practice change
Rationale: The first step in EBP is asking a clinical question (PICOT). Searching databases
is step 2. Critical appraisal is step 3. Evaluation is the final step .
10. Which database is the premier resource for locating nursing-specific literature?
A. PsycINFO
B. CINAHL
C. Cochrane Library
D. PubMed Central
Rationale: The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) is the
premier database dedicated specifically to nursing and allied health professions .
11. Which database is specifically dedicated to evidence-based practice and
systematic reviews?
A. PubMed
B. Google Scholar
C. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
D. CINAHL
Rationale: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews is the gold standard for systematic
reviews and meta-analyses in healthcare .
Evidence-Based
Practice Exam
Section 1: Foundational EBP Concepts & PICOT (Questions
1–20)
1. Which definition best describes Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?
A. The practice of medicine based on tradition and expert opinion
B. The integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
values
C. The use of a single research study to guide all clinical decisions
D. Following hospital policies without question
Rationale: EBP is explicitly defined as the integration of best research evidence with
clinical expertise and patient values to facilitate clinical decision-making. This definition
distinguishes EBP from research utilization, which focuses on implementing a single
study's findings .
2. In the PICOT framework, what does the "P" represent?
A. Problem
B. Patient population or problem
C. Process
D. Practice
,Rationale: "P" stands for Patient population or problem of interest. This identifies the
specific group of patients or the clinical issue being addressed .
3. In the PICOT framework, what does the "I" represent?
A. Investigation
B. Intervention
C. Implementation
D. Incidence
Rationale: "I" stands for Intervention—the treatment, exposure, or test being
considered. This is the action or approach being evaluated for its effectiveness .
4. In the PICOT framework, what does the "C" represent?
A. Control group
B. Comparison intervention
C. Clinical context
D. Cost effectiveness
Rationale: "C" stands for Comparison intervention—the alternative to the intervention
being studied. This could be standard care, a placebo, or another treatment approach .
5. In the PICOT framework, what does the "O" represent?
A. Organization
B. Outcome
C. Observation
D. Order of evidence
Rationale: "O" stands for Outcome—the expected result or effect of the intervention.
Outcomes should be measurable and clinically meaningful .
,6. In the PICOT framework, what does the "T" represent?
A. Timeframe
B. Treatment
C. Type of study
D. Total population
Rationale: "T" stands for Timeframe—the period over which the outcome is measured
(e.g., within 30 days, during hospitalization). Including a time element is crucial for
guiding the literature search and determining the relevance of outcomes .
7. A nurse formulates the following PICOT question: "In adult patients with
pressure injuries, does the use of a hydrocolloid dressing compared to saline-
moistened gauze reduce wound healing time within 4 weeks?" What does the "C"
represent?
A. Adult patients with pressure injuries
B. Reduce wound healing time
C. Saline-moistened gauze
D. Within 4 weeks
Rationale: P = adults with pressure injuries; I = hydrocolloid dressing; C = saline-
moistened gauze (the comparison); O = reduced healing time; T = within 4 weeks .
8. Which framework is used to construct clinical questions in EBP?
A. PICOT
B. SWOT
C. PDSA
D. SMART
Rationale: PICOT (Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time) is the
standard framework for formulating clinical questions in EBP .
, 9. What is the first step in the EBP process?
A. Searching electronic databases for relevant research studies
B. Asking a well-formed clinical question using PICOT format
C. Critically appraising the evidence for validity and applicability
D. Evaluating the outcomes of the practice change
Rationale: The first step in EBP is asking a clinical question (PICOT). Searching databases
is step 2. Critical appraisal is step 3. Evaluation is the final step .
10. Which database is the premier resource for locating nursing-specific literature?
A. PsycINFO
B. CINAHL
C. Cochrane Library
D. PubMed Central
Rationale: The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) is the
premier database dedicated specifically to nursing and allied health professions .
11. Which database is specifically dedicated to evidence-based practice and
systematic reviews?
A. PubMed
B. Google Scholar
C. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
D. CINAHL
Rationale: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews is the gold standard for systematic
reviews and meta-analyses in healthcare .
