Q&A | Evidence-Based Practice
1. Which of the following best defines Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?
A) A method of conducting randomized controlled trials
B) The integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient values
C) A process of trial and error in clinical decision-making
D) The practice of medicine based on tradition
Correct Answer: The integration of best research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient values
Rationale: Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is explicitly defined as the
integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
values to facilitate clinical decision-making. This distinguishes EBP from
research utilization, which focuses only on implementing findings from a
single study.
2. A nurse is developing a clinical question about fall prevention in older
adults. Which framework is most appropriate?
A) SWOT
B) PICO
C) PDSA
D) GRADE
Correct Answer: PICO
Rationale: PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) is the
standard framework for constructing foreground clinical questions in EBP.
,SWOT is for strategic planning, PDSA is for quality improvement cycles, and
GRADE is for rating evidence quality.
3. In a PICO(T) question addressing reduction of fall rates among hospitalized
geriatric patients, "hospitalized geriatric patients" represents which
component?
A) Population
B) Intervention
C) Comparison
D) Outcome
Correct Answer: Population
Rationale: The population (P) identifies the specific group of patients, clients,
or communities that the clinical question is targeting. The "P" in PICO stands
for Patient population or problem of interest.
4. A nurse is drafting a PICO(T) question regarding the use of chlorhexidine
versus soap and water for central line care. What does the chlorhexidine
represent?
A) Population
B) Intervention
C) Comparison
D) Outcome
Correct Answer: Intervention
Rationale: The intervention (I) is the specific treatment, therapy, or practice
being introduced or evaluated in the PICO(T) question. In this case,
,chlorhexidine is the intervention being tested against the comparison of soap
and water.
5. A nurse is developing a PICOT question. What does the "T" in PICOT stand
for?
A) Treatment
B) Timeframe
C) Testing
D) Theory
Correct Answer: Timeframe
Rationale: In the PICOT acronym, T stands for Timeframe, which defines the
period needed to observe the outcome. This clarifies the duration over which
the intervention's effects are expected to be assessed.
6. What is the primary purpose of a "rapid critical appraisal" of a study?
A) To summarize the abstract
B) To evaluate validity, reliability, and applicability
C) To count the number of references
D) To replicate the study design
Correct Answer: To evaluate validity, reliability, and applicability
Rationale: Rapid critical appraisal systematically assesses a study's
methodological quality, relevance, and potential for practice change. It
evaluates the validity, reliability, and applicability of research findings to
your clinical question.
, 7. Which type of study provides the highest level of evidence according to
the evidence hierarchy?
A) Case control study
B) Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
C) Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
D) Cohort study
Correct Answer: Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
Rationale: In the evidence hierarchy, systematic reviews and meta-analyses
of randomized controlled trials provide the highest level of evidence. They
synthesize findings from multiple high-quality studies, providing a
comprehensive summary of the evidence.
8. A nurse researcher is designing a quantitative study. Which of the
following elements must be present to classify the research design as a true
experimental study?
A) Convenience sampling, a control group, and a clinical intervention
B) Pre-test data collection, a research hypothesis, and a large sample size
C) Manipulation of an independent variable, random assignment, and a
control group
D) Data saturation, qualitative feedback, and a descriptive variable design
Correct Answer: Manipulation of an independent variable, random
assignment, and a control group
Rationale: A true experimental design (Randomized Controlled Trial) requires
three specific properties: manipulation of an independent variable (the
intervention), random assignment of participants to groups, and the
utilization of a control/comparison group.