Galen NSG 4000 Exam 3 | Nursing Practice – Complex Health
(2026) Actual Q&A PDF
1. A nurse is reading a systematic review that includes a meta-analysis. Which of the following is
a key advantage of a meta-analysis over a traditional systematic review?
A) It includes only qualitative research studies
B) It uses statistical methods to combine the results of multiple studies
C) It relies solely on expert opinion
D) It does not require a systematic search strategy
Correct Answer: It uses statistical methods to combine the results of multiple studies
Rationale: A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies
to produce a single estimate of the effect. This increases the statistical power and precision of
the findings.
2. A nurse is appraising a research article and notes that the authors used an "intention-to-
treat" analysis. What is the primary purpose of intention-to-treat analysis?
A) To include only participants who completed the study
B) To analyze participants based on their initial group assignment, regardless of whether they
completed the intervention
C) To exclude participants who did not adhere to the protocol
D) To increase the risk of Type I error
Correct Answer: To analyze participants based on their initial group assignment, regardless of
whether they completed the intervention
,Rationale: Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis includes all participants in the groups to which they
were originally assigned, regardless of whether they completed the intervention. This preserves
the benefits of randomization and reduces bias.
3. A nurse is evaluating a research study and notes that the authors report a "number needed to
treat" (NNT) of 10. What is the correct interpretation of this finding?
A) 10 patients must be treated to prevent one additional adverse outcome
B) 10 patients must be treated to cause one additional adverse outcome
C) The treatment is not effective
D) The treatment has a 10% success rate
Correct Answer: 10 patients must be treated to prevent one additional adverse outcome
Rationale: The number needed to treat (NNT) is the number of patients who need to be treated
to prevent one additional adverse outcome. An NNT of 10 means that 10 patients must be
treated to prevent one additional event.
4. A nurse is reading a research article that uses a "forest plot" to display the results of a meta-
analysis. What does a forest plot typically display?
A) The results of individual studies and the overall pooled estimate
B) The demographic characteristics of the study participants
C) The study's funding sources
D) The study's limitations
Correct Answer: The results of individual studies and the overall pooled estimate
Rationale: A forest plot is a graphical display used in meta-analyses to show the results of
individual studies and the overall pooled estimate. It typically includes point estimates,
confidence intervals, and a summary diamond representing the pooled effect.
,5. A nurse is appraising a research study and notes that the study has a high risk of "attrition
bias." What is attrition bias?
A) Bias introduced when participants are lost to follow-up
B) Bias introduced when participants are not randomly assigned
C) Bias introduced when participants are not blinded
D) Bias introduced when the outcome is not measured accurately
Correct Answer: Bias introduced when participants are lost to follow-up
Rationale: Attrition bias occurs when participants drop out of a study, and the reasons for
dropout are related to the intervention or outcome. This can threaten the validity of the study's
findings.
6. A nurse is preparing a PICOT question and includes the "Time" element. Which of the
following is an example of a well-defined "Time" element?
A) 6 months
B) A long time
C) When the patient feels better
D) After the intervention
Correct Answer: 6 months
Rationale: A well-defined Time element is specific and measurable. "6 months" is a clear
timeframe, whereas "a long time" and "when the patient feels better" are vague.
7. A nurse is reading a research article and notes that the authors used a "survival analysis."
What is the primary purpose of survival analysis?
, A) To analyze the time until an event occurs
B) To analyze the frequency of an event
C) To analyze the severity of an event
D) To analyze the cost of an event
Correct Answer: To analyze the time until an event occurs
Rationale: Survival analysis is a statistical method used to analyze the time until an event of
interest occurs, such as death, relapse, or recovery. It is commonly used in longitudinal studies.
8. A nurse is appraising a research article and notes that the study used a "propensity score"
analysis. What is the primary purpose of propensity score analysis?
A) To control for confounding in observational studies
B) To increase the sample size
C) To ensure random assignment
D) To reduce the cost of the study
Correct Answer: To control for confounding in observational studies
Rationale: Propensity score analysis is a statistical technique used to control for confounding in
observational studies. It creates a score that represents the probability of receiving the
treatment based on observed covariates, allowing for more accurate comparisons.
9. A nurse is preparing a research proposal. Which of the following is an important
consideration for ensuring the validity of a research study?
A) Using a validated measurement tool
B) Ensuring a large sample size
C) Using random assignment
(2026) Actual Q&A PDF
1. A nurse is reading a systematic review that includes a meta-analysis. Which of the following is
a key advantage of a meta-analysis over a traditional systematic review?
A) It includes only qualitative research studies
B) It uses statistical methods to combine the results of multiple studies
C) It relies solely on expert opinion
D) It does not require a systematic search strategy
Correct Answer: It uses statistical methods to combine the results of multiple studies
Rationale: A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies
to produce a single estimate of the effect. This increases the statistical power and precision of
the findings.
2. A nurse is appraising a research article and notes that the authors used an "intention-to-
treat" analysis. What is the primary purpose of intention-to-treat analysis?
A) To include only participants who completed the study
B) To analyze participants based on their initial group assignment, regardless of whether they
completed the intervention
C) To exclude participants who did not adhere to the protocol
D) To increase the risk of Type I error
Correct Answer: To analyze participants based on their initial group assignment, regardless of
whether they completed the intervention
,Rationale: Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis includes all participants in the groups to which they
were originally assigned, regardless of whether they completed the intervention. This preserves
the benefits of randomization and reduces bias.
3. A nurse is evaluating a research study and notes that the authors report a "number needed to
treat" (NNT) of 10. What is the correct interpretation of this finding?
A) 10 patients must be treated to prevent one additional adverse outcome
B) 10 patients must be treated to cause one additional adverse outcome
C) The treatment is not effective
D) The treatment has a 10% success rate
Correct Answer: 10 patients must be treated to prevent one additional adverse outcome
Rationale: The number needed to treat (NNT) is the number of patients who need to be treated
to prevent one additional adverse outcome. An NNT of 10 means that 10 patients must be
treated to prevent one additional event.
4. A nurse is reading a research article that uses a "forest plot" to display the results of a meta-
analysis. What does a forest plot typically display?
A) The results of individual studies and the overall pooled estimate
B) The demographic characteristics of the study participants
C) The study's funding sources
D) The study's limitations
Correct Answer: The results of individual studies and the overall pooled estimate
Rationale: A forest plot is a graphical display used in meta-analyses to show the results of
individual studies and the overall pooled estimate. It typically includes point estimates,
confidence intervals, and a summary diamond representing the pooled effect.
,5. A nurse is appraising a research study and notes that the study has a high risk of "attrition
bias." What is attrition bias?
A) Bias introduced when participants are lost to follow-up
B) Bias introduced when participants are not randomly assigned
C) Bias introduced when participants are not blinded
D) Bias introduced when the outcome is not measured accurately
Correct Answer: Bias introduced when participants are lost to follow-up
Rationale: Attrition bias occurs when participants drop out of a study, and the reasons for
dropout are related to the intervention or outcome. This can threaten the validity of the study's
findings.
6. A nurse is preparing a PICOT question and includes the "Time" element. Which of the
following is an example of a well-defined "Time" element?
A) 6 months
B) A long time
C) When the patient feels better
D) After the intervention
Correct Answer: 6 months
Rationale: A well-defined Time element is specific and measurable. "6 months" is a clear
timeframe, whereas "a long time" and "when the patient feels better" are vague.
7. A nurse is reading a research article and notes that the authors used a "survival analysis."
What is the primary purpose of survival analysis?
, A) To analyze the time until an event occurs
B) To analyze the frequency of an event
C) To analyze the severity of an event
D) To analyze the cost of an event
Correct Answer: To analyze the time until an event occurs
Rationale: Survival analysis is a statistical method used to analyze the time until an event of
interest occurs, such as death, relapse, or recovery. It is commonly used in longitudinal studies.
8. A nurse is appraising a research article and notes that the study used a "propensity score"
analysis. What is the primary purpose of propensity score analysis?
A) To control for confounding in observational studies
B) To increase the sample size
C) To ensure random assignment
D) To reduce the cost of the study
Correct Answer: To control for confounding in observational studies
Rationale: Propensity score analysis is a statistical technique used to control for confounding in
observational studies. It creates a score that represents the probability of receiving the
treatment based on observed covariates, allowing for more accurate comparisons.
9. A nurse is preparing a research proposal. Which of the following is an important
consideration for ensuring the validity of a research study?
A) Using a validated measurement tool
B) Ensuring a large sample size
C) Using random assignment
