Evidence-Based Practice - 2026 Nursing Primer: Final Exam
(Comprehensive) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. When searching for qualitative studies, useful terms include:
A. Qualitative, interview, focus group, phenomenology and lived experience
B. Randomized and placebo
C. Odds ratio
D. Double-blind
Correct Answer: A. Qualitative, interview, focus group, phenomenology and lived experience
Rationale: Design terms help find qualitative evidence. Filters exist in some databases.
2. Hand-searching reference lists of relevant articles (snowballing) helps:
A. Remove duplicates
B. Narrow the question
C. Replace databases
D. Identify additional studies missed by database searches
Correct Answer: D. Identify additional studies missed by database searches
Rationale: Backward and forward citation searching adds completeness. It is a standard
technique.
3. Inconsistency in GRADE refers to:
A. Imprecise estimates
B. Indirect populations
C. Unexplained variation in results across studies
D. Missing outcomes
Correct Answer: C. Unexplained variation in results across studies
Rationale: Heterogeneity reduces confidence. Explaining differences may restore it.
,4. Level of evidence alone does not determine its usefulness because:
A. Only level matters
B. All studies are equal
C. Quality never varies
D. Study quality, consistency, directness and applicability also matter
Correct Answer: D. Study quality, consistency, directness and applicability also matter
Rationale: A poorly conducted RCT can be misleading. Appraisal considers multiple factors.
5. A CONSORT flow diagram shows:
A. The flow of participants through enrollment, allocation, follow-up and analysis
B. Study budget
C. Author contributions
D. Statistical formulas
Correct Answer: A. The flow of participants through enrollment, allocation, follow-up and
analysis
Rationale: It reveals attrition and exclusions. Readers can judge bias risk.
6. Historical controls in studies are problematic because:
A. They are randomized
B. Changes over time in care and populations can bias comparisons
C. They are always identical
D. They eliminate bias
Correct Answer: B. Changes over time in care and populations can bias comparisons
Rationale: Concurrent controls are preferred. Secular trends confound comparisons.
,7. Bayesian analysis differs from frequentist analysis in that it:
A. Uses only p-values
B. Ignores data
C. Cannot be used in trials
D. Combines prior information with study data to estimate the probability of effects
Correct Answer: D. Combines prior information with study data to estimate the probability of
effects
Rationale: Bayesian methods are increasingly used in trials. They express probability of benefit
directly.
8. An odds ratio is commonly reported in:
A. Only descriptive studies
B. Only qualitative studies
C. Case-control studies and logistic regression
D. Only crossover trials
Correct Answer: C. Case-control studies and logistic regression
Rationale: Odds ratios approximate relative risk when outcomes are rare. They can exaggerate
effects when outcomes are common.
9. Appraising a study's ethical conduct includes checking:
A. Author nationality
B. IRB approval and informed consent procedures
C. Journal design
D. Number of tables
Correct Answer: B. IRB approval and informed consent procedures
Rationale: Ethical conduct is essential. Reports should state approvals.
, 10. Multicenter studies improve:
A. Generalizability and recruitment
B. Bias
C. Contamination
D. Costs only
Correct Answer: A. Generalizability and recruitment
Rationale: Diverse sites reflect varied practice. Coordination is more complex.
11. Photovoice is a participatory qualitative method in which:
A. Researchers take all photographs
B. Only statistics are used
C. Participants take photographs to represent their experiences and discuss them
D. Data are collected by mail
Correct Answer: C. Participants take photographs to represent their experiences and discuss
them
Rationale: It empowers participants. It is used in community health research.
12. Negative case analysis strengthens qualitative findings by:
A. Ignoring contradictory data
B. Searching for and explaining data that do not fit emerging patterns
C. Removing outliers
D. Using statistics
Correct Answer: B. Searching for and explaining data that do not fit emerging patterns
Rationale: It refines interpretations. It supports credibility.
(Comprehensive) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. When searching for qualitative studies, useful terms include:
A. Qualitative, interview, focus group, phenomenology and lived experience
B. Randomized and placebo
C. Odds ratio
D. Double-blind
Correct Answer: A. Qualitative, interview, focus group, phenomenology and lived experience
Rationale: Design terms help find qualitative evidence. Filters exist in some databases.
2. Hand-searching reference lists of relevant articles (snowballing) helps:
A. Remove duplicates
B. Narrow the question
C. Replace databases
D. Identify additional studies missed by database searches
Correct Answer: D. Identify additional studies missed by database searches
Rationale: Backward and forward citation searching adds completeness. It is a standard
technique.
3. Inconsistency in GRADE refers to:
A. Imprecise estimates
B. Indirect populations
C. Unexplained variation in results across studies
D. Missing outcomes
Correct Answer: C. Unexplained variation in results across studies
Rationale: Heterogeneity reduces confidence. Explaining differences may restore it.
,4. Level of evidence alone does not determine its usefulness because:
A. Only level matters
B. All studies are equal
C. Quality never varies
D. Study quality, consistency, directness and applicability also matter
Correct Answer: D. Study quality, consistency, directness and applicability also matter
Rationale: A poorly conducted RCT can be misleading. Appraisal considers multiple factors.
5. A CONSORT flow diagram shows:
A. The flow of participants through enrollment, allocation, follow-up and analysis
B. Study budget
C. Author contributions
D. Statistical formulas
Correct Answer: A. The flow of participants through enrollment, allocation, follow-up and
analysis
Rationale: It reveals attrition and exclusions. Readers can judge bias risk.
6. Historical controls in studies are problematic because:
A. They are randomized
B. Changes over time in care and populations can bias comparisons
C. They are always identical
D. They eliminate bias
Correct Answer: B. Changes over time in care and populations can bias comparisons
Rationale: Concurrent controls are preferred. Secular trends confound comparisons.
,7. Bayesian analysis differs from frequentist analysis in that it:
A. Uses only p-values
B. Ignores data
C. Cannot be used in trials
D. Combines prior information with study data to estimate the probability of effects
Correct Answer: D. Combines prior information with study data to estimate the probability of
effects
Rationale: Bayesian methods are increasingly used in trials. They express probability of benefit
directly.
8. An odds ratio is commonly reported in:
A. Only descriptive studies
B. Only qualitative studies
C. Case-control studies and logistic regression
D. Only crossover trials
Correct Answer: C. Case-control studies and logistic regression
Rationale: Odds ratios approximate relative risk when outcomes are rare. They can exaggerate
effects when outcomes are common.
9. Appraising a study's ethical conduct includes checking:
A. Author nationality
B. IRB approval and informed consent procedures
C. Journal design
D. Number of tables
Correct Answer: B. IRB approval and informed consent procedures
Rationale: Ethical conduct is essential. Reports should state approvals.
, 10. Multicenter studies improve:
A. Generalizability and recruitment
B. Bias
C. Contamination
D. Costs only
Correct Answer: A. Generalizability and recruitment
Rationale: Diverse sites reflect varied practice. Coordination is more complex.
11. Photovoice is a participatory qualitative method in which:
A. Researchers take all photographs
B. Only statistics are used
C. Participants take photographs to represent their experiences and discuss them
D. Data are collected by mail
Correct Answer: C. Participants take photographs to represent their experiences and discuss
them
Rationale: It empowers participants. It is used in community health research.
12. Negative case analysis strengthens qualitative findings by:
A. Ignoring contradictory data
B. Searching for and explaining data that do not fit emerging patterns
C. Removing outliers
D. Using statistics
Correct Answer: B. Searching for and explaining data that do not fit emerging patterns
Rationale: It refines interpretations. It supports credibility.
