Research and Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards

Which of the following BEST describes a 'control group' in a massage therapy study?

Answer: A group that does not receive the experimental treatment, used for comparison

A control group receives no treatment or a placebo, providing a baseline for comparing outcomes against the experimental group.

In research, 'statistically significant' findings mean:

Answer: The results are unlikely to have occurred by chance alone

Statistical significance indicates that the observed results are unlikely to be due to chance, though this does not necessarily mean the effect is clinically meaningful.

Research showing that massage therapy reduces cortisol levels MOST directly supports its use for:

Answer: Reducing physiological stress responses

Cortisol is the primary stress hormone; research demonstrating its reduction following massage supports massage's role in alleviating physiological stress.

Which of the following BEST illustrates applying evidence-based practice in clinical decision-making?

Answer: Selecting an approach based on current research, clinical experience, and client goals

Evidence-based practice requires integrating current research evidence with the practitioner's expertise and the individual client's goals and values.

A common methodological limitation in massage therapy research is:

Answer: Difficulty blinding participants to whether they received massage or not

Because participants typically know whether they received massage, true double-blinding is nearly impossible, making it difficult to fully account for placebo effects.

Which source would be considered MOST reliable when researching evidence for massage therapy outcomes?

Answer: A peer-reviewed journal article published in a reputable database

Peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in reputable databases represent the highest standard of published evidence for clinical decision-making.