C417 WGU PRE TEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Pre/post-study 1 - ANSWER-The state public health researcher wants to begin a
five-year initiative to coordinate
immunizations for children in the foster care system. The results will be compared to
previous
years to measure the effectiveness of the initiative.
Which research method should be used to study this initiative?
Regression analysis - ANSWER-Using publicly reported data from Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, researchers want
to examine the relationship between 30-day readmissions and mortality rates for
patients with
heart failure at five facilities. Before this can be done, researchers need to estimate
mortality
rates and readmission rates from heart failure.
Which statistical technique should be used to calculate the estimated rates?
Regression analysis - ANSWER-Researchers want to determine if a particular risk
factor or risk factors are associated with the
frequency for non-elective readmission within 30 days among patients with diabetes
in a
metropolitan area. The variables of interest include age, gender, race/ethnicity, and
insurance
status.
Which statistical technique should be used?
Research design - ANSWER-A hospital researcher is interested in investigating the
association between hospital ownership
(i.e., government, investor, and not-for-profit) on overall hospital quality scores.
Research Methods
A cross-sectional data set of all urban hospitals from eight states is used in this
study. The data
were obtained from various administrative databases: Medicare Hospital Cost Report
Information System, the American Hospital Association, and the Area Health
Resource File.
Descriptive statistics are used to summarize the data. An ordinary least squares
regression is used
to test the relationship between ownership status and hospital quality while
controlling for
hospital and market characteristics.
Which component is missing from these research methods?
Analysis plan - ANSWER-A hospital researcher is interested in the association
between patient satisfaction and hospital
, market share. The researcher hypothesizes that increased patient satisfaction will
lead to an
increase in hospital market share.
Research Methods
A longitudinal study of seven years will be conducted to assess the change in
hospital market
share over time. Urban hospitals from the United States that have more than 100
beds will be
included in the analysis. The data set will include hospital characteristics and market
characteristics. Administrative data will be obtained from the American Hospital
Association's
Annual Survey of Hospitals, the Area Health Resources File, and the Hospital
Compare website.
The variables included in the data set will control for other factors that may impact
hospital
patient satisfaction. Statistical significance will be set at α = 0.05 for the analysis.
The results of
the analysis will be of interest to hospital administrators and policy makers.
Which component is missing from the research methods?
Introduces subjectivity to data collection - ANSWER-What is a characteristic of
qualitative research methods?
Pretest-posttest - ANSWER-Many physician practices now utilize an electronic
health record (EHR) system that includes a
secure messaging feature. Some of these practices have extended their contact with
patients by
conducting virtual visits between people with diabetes and nurses who are certified
diabetes
educators. The remote technology includes the ability to monitor blood glucose data
to determine
if these values are within goal range. After six months, the results of the blood
glucose levels for
the group participating in the virtual visits were evaluated.
Which research method was used?
Meta-analysis - ANSWER-A researcher wants to determine whether continuity of
care is improved with the use of
coordination of care documents among primary care physicians and specialists. The
researcher
decides to review various published studies to assess the clinical effectiveness of
these
documents on patient outcomes.
Which research method is being used?
HCAHPS scores - ANSWER-After reviewing a quality report from a large urban
hospital, an administrator decided to
implement a new initiative to improve communication among healthcare
professionals. The
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Pre/post-study 1 - ANSWER-The state public health researcher wants to begin a
five-year initiative to coordinate
immunizations for children in the foster care system. The results will be compared to
previous
years to measure the effectiveness of the initiative.
Which research method should be used to study this initiative?
Regression analysis - ANSWER-Using publicly reported data from Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, researchers want
to examine the relationship between 30-day readmissions and mortality rates for
patients with
heart failure at five facilities. Before this can be done, researchers need to estimate
mortality
rates and readmission rates from heart failure.
Which statistical technique should be used to calculate the estimated rates?
Regression analysis - ANSWER-Researchers want to determine if a particular risk
factor or risk factors are associated with the
frequency for non-elective readmission within 30 days among patients with diabetes
in a
metropolitan area. The variables of interest include age, gender, race/ethnicity, and
insurance
status.
Which statistical technique should be used?
Research design - ANSWER-A hospital researcher is interested in investigating the
association between hospital ownership
(i.e., government, investor, and not-for-profit) on overall hospital quality scores.
Research Methods
A cross-sectional data set of all urban hospitals from eight states is used in this
study. The data
were obtained from various administrative databases: Medicare Hospital Cost Report
Information System, the American Hospital Association, and the Area Health
Resource File.
Descriptive statistics are used to summarize the data. An ordinary least squares
regression is used
to test the relationship between ownership status and hospital quality while
controlling for
hospital and market characteristics.
Which component is missing from these research methods?
Analysis plan - ANSWER-A hospital researcher is interested in the association
between patient satisfaction and hospital
, market share. The researcher hypothesizes that increased patient satisfaction will
lead to an
increase in hospital market share.
Research Methods
A longitudinal study of seven years will be conducted to assess the change in
hospital market
share over time. Urban hospitals from the United States that have more than 100
beds will be
included in the analysis. The data set will include hospital characteristics and market
characteristics. Administrative data will be obtained from the American Hospital
Association's
Annual Survey of Hospitals, the Area Health Resources File, and the Hospital
Compare website.
The variables included in the data set will control for other factors that may impact
hospital
patient satisfaction. Statistical significance will be set at α = 0.05 for the analysis.
The results of
the analysis will be of interest to hospital administrators and policy makers.
Which component is missing from the research methods?
Introduces subjectivity to data collection - ANSWER-What is a characteristic of
qualitative research methods?
Pretest-posttest - ANSWER-Many physician practices now utilize an electronic
health record (EHR) system that includes a
secure messaging feature. Some of these practices have extended their contact with
patients by
conducting virtual visits between people with diabetes and nurses who are certified
diabetes
educators. The remote technology includes the ability to monitor blood glucose data
to determine
if these values are within goal range. After six months, the results of the blood
glucose levels for
the group participating in the virtual visits were evaluated.
Which research method was used?
Meta-analysis - ANSWER-A researcher wants to determine whether continuity of
care is improved with the use of
coordination of care documents among primary care physicians and specialists. The
researcher
decides to review various published studies to assess the clinical effectiveness of
these
documents on patient outcomes.
Which research method is being used?
HCAHPS scores - ANSWER-After reviewing a quality report from a large urban
hospital, an administrator decided to
implement a new initiative to improve communication among healthcare
professionals. The
