NURS 550: Translational Research & Evidence-Based Practice -
Comprehensive Study Guide
Disclaimer: This guide is a synthesis of core concepts from a typical NURS 550
curriculum. Always prioritize the specific materials, lectures, and syllabus provided by
your instructor.
Module 1: Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
1. What is the formal definition of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?
ANSWER ✓ EBP is a lifelong problem-solving approach to clinical practice that
integrates the best evidence from well-designed studies, a clinician's expertise, and
patient values and preferences.
2. What are the three core components of the EBP model?
ANSWER ✓ The three core components are: 1) Best research evidence, 2) Clinician
expertise and judgment, and 3) Patient values, preferences, and circumstances.
3. How does EBP differ from traditional practice or "the way we've always done
it"?
ANSWER ✓ Traditional practice is often based on ritual, tradition, or anecdotal
experience. EBP systematically questions these practices and seeks out the highest
quality scientific evidence to inform clinical decision-making, making care more
objective, effective, and safe.
4. What is the primary purpose of the PICO(T) framework?
ANSWER ✓ The PICO(T) framework is used to formulate a focused, searchable, and
answerable clinical question. It breaks down the question into key components:
Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and (sometimes) Time.
, 5. Formulate a PICO(T) question for: "In elderly patients with hypertension, does a
low-sodium diet compared to standard medication management alone lead to
better blood pressure control over 6 months?"
ANSWER ✓
o P: Elderly patients with hypertension
o I: Low-sodium diet
o C: Standard medication management alone
o O: Better blood pressure control (e.g., reduced systolic BP)
o T: 6 months
6. What are the seven steps of the EBP process?
ANSWER ✓ 0. Cultivate a spirit of inquiry. 1. Ask a clinical question in PICO(T) format. 2.
Collect the most relevant and best evidence. 3. Critically appraise the evidence. 4.
Integrate the evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences. 5. Implement the
findings into practice. 6. Evaluate the outcomes of the practice change. 7. Disseminate
the results.
7. What are common barriers to implementing EBP in a clinical setting?
ANSWER ✓ Common barriers include lack of time, lack of access to research databases,
insufficient EBP knowledge/skills among staff, resistance to change from colleagues or
leadership, and a organizational culture that does not support inquiry.
8. What is Clinical Inquiry?
ANSWER ✓ Clinical inquiry is the ongoing process of questioning and evaluating clinical
practice. It is the foundational spirit of curiosity that drives the EBP process.
Module 2: Introduction to Research Methodologies
9. What is the primary difference between Quantitative and Qualitative research?
ANSWER ✓ Quantitative research collects and analyzes numerical data to find patterns
and averages, test hypotheses, and make predictions. Qualitative research collects and
analyzes non-numerical data (e.g., text, video) to understand concepts, opinions, or
experiences.
, 10. What are the main types of Quantitative research designs?
ANSWER ✓ The main types are Experimental (RCTs), Quasi-experimental, and Non-
experimental (Descriptive, Correlational, Cohort, Case-Control).
11. What is the defining feature of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)?
ANSWER ✓ The defining feature is the random assignment of participants to either an
intervention group or a control group. This is the "gold standard" for testing cause-and-
effect relationships.
12. How does a Quasi-experimental design differ from an RCT?
ANSWER ✓ A Quasi-experimental design tests an intervention but lacks random
assignment to groups, making it more susceptible to bias.
13. What is the purpose of a Systematic Review?
ANSWER ✓ A systematic review aims to comprehensively identify, appraise, and
synthesize all relevant studies on a specific, focused clinical question using a strict, pre-
defined methodology to minimize bias.
14. What is a Meta-Analysis?
ANSWER ✓ A meta-analysis is a statistical technique used within a systematic review to
combine the quantitative results from multiple studies, providing a more precise
estimate of the effect of an intervention.
15. What is the highest level of evidence on the evidence hierarchy?
ANSWER ✓ Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of high-quality RCTs are considered
the highest level of evidence.
16. What are the common methodologies in Qualitative research?
ANSWER ✓ Common methodologies include Phenomenology (understanding lived
experiences), Ethnography (understanding cultures), Grounded Theory (developing
theories from data), and Case Study (in-depth look at a single case).
17. What is the purpose of a Mixed-Methods research study?
Comprehensive Study Guide
Disclaimer: This guide is a synthesis of core concepts from a typical NURS 550
curriculum. Always prioritize the specific materials, lectures, and syllabus provided by
your instructor.
Module 1: Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
1. What is the formal definition of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?
ANSWER ✓ EBP is a lifelong problem-solving approach to clinical practice that
integrates the best evidence from well-designed studies, a clinician's expertise, and
patient values and preferences.
2. What are the three core components of the EBP model?
ANSWER ✓ The three core components are: 1) Best research evidence, 2) Clinician
expertise and judgment, and 3) Patient values, preferences, and circumstances.
3. How does EBP differ from traditional practice or "the way we've always done
it"?
ANSWER ✓ Traditional practice is often based on ritual, tradition, or anecdotal
experience. EBP systematically questions these practices and seeks out the highest
quality scientific evidence to inform clinical decision-making, making care more
objective, effective, and safe.
4. What is the primary purpose of the PICO(T) framework?
ANSWER ✓ The PICO(T) framework is used to formulate a focused, searchable, and
answerable clinical question. It breaks down the question into key components:
Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and (sometimes) Time.
, 5. Formulate a PICO(T) question for: "In elderly patients with hypertension, does a
low-sodium diet compared to standard medication management alone lead to
better blood pressure control over 6 months?"
ANSWER ✓
o P: Elderly patients with hypertension
o I: Low-sodium diet
o C: Standard medication management alone
o O: Better blood pressure control (e.g., reduced systolic BP)
o T: 6 months
6. What are the seven steps of the EBP process?
ANSWER ✓ 0. Cultivate a spirit of inquiry. 1. Ask a clinical question in PICO(T) format. 2.
Collect the most relevant and best evidence. 3. Critically appraise the evidence. 4.
Integrate the evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences. 5. Implement the
findings into practice. 6. Evaluate the outcomes of the practice change. 7. Disseminate
the results.
7. What are common barriers to implementing EBP in a clinical setting?
ANSWER ✓ Common barriers include lack of time, lack of access to research databases,
insufficient EBP knowledge/skills among staff, resistance to change from colleagues or
leadership, and a organizational culture that does not support inquiry.
8. What is Clinical Inquiry?
ANSWER ✓ Clinical inquiry is the ongoing process of questioning and evaluating clinical
practice. It is the foundational spirit of curiosity that drives the EBP process.
Module 2: Introduction to Research Methodologies
9. What is the primary difference between Quantitative and Qualitative research?
ANSWER ✓ Quantitative research collects and analyzes numerical data to find patterns
and averages, test hypotheses, and make predictions. Qualitative research collects and
analyzes non-numerical data (e.g., text, video) to understand concepts, opinions, or
experiences.
, 10. What are the main types of Quantitative research designs?
ANSWER ✓ The main types are Experimental (RCTs), Quasi-experimental, and Non-
experimental (Descriptive, Correlational, Cohort, Case-Control).
11. What is the defining feature of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)?
ANSWER ✓ The defining feature is the random assignment of participants to either an
intervention group or a control group. This is the "gold standard" for testing cause-and-
effect relationships.
12. How does a Quasi-experimental design differ from an RCT?
ANSWER ✓ A Quasi-experimental design tests an intervention but lacks random
assignment to groups, making it more susceptible to bias.
13. What is the purpose of a Systematic Review?
ANSWER ✓ A systematic review aims to comprehensively identify, appraise, and
synthesize all relevant studies on a specific, focused clinical question using a strict, pre-
defined methodology to minimize bias.
14. What is a Meta-Analysis?
ANSWER ✓ A meta-analysis is a statistical technique used within a systematic review to
combine the quantitative results from multiple studies, providing a more precise
estimate of the effect of an intervention.
15. What is the highest level of evidence on the evidence hierarchy?
ANSWER ✓ Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of high-quality RCTs are considered
the highest level of evidence.
16. What are the common methodologies in Qualitative research?
ANSWER ✓ Common methodologies include Phenomenology (understanding lived
experiences), Ethnography (understanding cultures), Grounded Theory (developing
theories from data), and Case Study (in-depth look at a single case).
17. What is the purpose of a Mixed-Methods research study?
