70-413 Exam Research & Evidence-Based Practice 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nurse wants to implement a new wound care protocol based on recent evidence. According to the EBP process, what is the FIRST step?
- Search for relevant literature
- Ask a clinical question in PICO format (Correct answer)
- Evaluate the current practice
- Appraise the evidence critically
Correct answer: Ask a clinical question in PICO format
The first step in evidence-based practice is formulating a focused clinical question using the PICO framework to guide the literature search.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a primary research source?
- A systematic review of wound care interventions
- A clinical practice guideline from a nursing organization
- An original study reporting new data collected by the researchers (Correct answer)
- A textbook chapter summarizing infection control methods
Correct answer: An original study reporting new data collected by the researchers
A primary source is an original research report where the authors directly collected and analyzed data, as opposed to secondary sources that synthesize others' work.
Question 3: When evaluating an article's level of evidence, a nurse finds it is a well-designed case-control study. Where does this fall on the evidence hierarchy?
- Level I — highest
- Level III — moderate
- Level V — low (Correct answer)
- Level VII — expert opinion only
Correct answer: Level V — low
Case-control studies typically fall at Level III or IV (moderate evidence) on most hierarchies, below RCTs and systematic reviews but above expert opinion and descriptive studies.
Question 4: A clinical practice guideline differs from a systematic review primarily because it:
- Includes only qualitative studies
- Provides specific recommendations for clinical practice based on synthesized evidence (Correct answer)
- Is conducted without a formal literature search
- Focuses exclusively on quantitative outcomes
Correct answer: Provides specific recommendations for clinical practice based on synthesized evidence
A clinical practice guideline translates synthesized evidence into actionable, specific recommendations intended to guide clinical decisions, whereas a systematic review summarizes and appraises existing research without prescribing practice.
Question 5: Which step in the EBP process involves determining whether research evidence is applicable to a specific patient population?
- Asking the clinical question
- Searching the literature
- Appraising the evidence
- Integrating evidence with clinical expertise and patient values (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Integrating evidence with clinical expertise and patient values
Integration is the step where clinicians combine the best available evidence with their expertise and the patient's unique circumstances, values, and preferences to inform clinical decisions.
Question 6: A hospital unit implements a new fall prevention bundle and tracks fall rates monthly. This is best described as:
- Basic scientific research
- Translational research
- Quality improvement (Correct answer)
- Grounded theory study
Correct answer: Quality improvement
Quality improvement (QI) projects systematically monitor and improve processes and outcomes within a specific healthcare setting, using performance data to drive practice changes.
Question 7: Which database is considered the most comprehensive resource for peer-reviewed nursing and allied health literature?
- MEDLINE
- CINAHL (Correct answer)
- PsycINFO
- Cochrane Library
Correct answer: CINAHL
CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) is the primary database for nursing and allied health research, indexing hundreds of nursing journals not found in other databases.
70-413 Exam Research & Evidence-Based Practice 4
A nurse wants to implement a new wound care protocol based on recent evidence.
According to the EBP process, what is the FIRST step?