ASHA ASHA Research and Evidence-Based Practice 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary framework used in ASHA's evidence-based practice (EBP) model?
- Integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and client values (Correct answer)
- Reliance solely on peer-reviewed journal studies
- Following only ASHA's published clinical practice guidelines
- Using only randomized controlled trials as evidence
Correct answer: Integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and client values
ASHA's EBP model integrates external research evidence, clinician expertise, and client/patient values and preferences to guide clinical decisions.
Question 2: Which level of evidence is considered the strongest in the evidence hierarchy for clinical research?
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (Correct answer)
- Single case experimental designs
- Expert opinion and clinical consensus
- Cross-sectional observational studies
Correct answer: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) sit at the top of the evidence hierarchy because they synthesize the highest quality individual studies.
Question 3: When a speech-language pathologist (SLP) implements a new intervention, which step of EBP involves formulating a searchable clinical question?
- Ask (Correct answer)
- Acquire
- Appraise
- Apply
Correct answer: Ask
The 'Ask' step of the five-step EBP process involves converting a clinical problem into a well-structured, answerable question, often using the PICO format.
Question 4: What does the acronym PICO stand for in clinical research question formulation?
- Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (Correct answer)
- Patient, Indication, Control, Observation
- Practice, Implementation, Concept, Objective
- Protocol, Intervention, Criterion, Outcome
Correct answer: Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
PICO stands for Population/Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome, providing a structured way to formulate searchable clinical research questions.
Question 5: Which ASHA resource provides peer-reviewed, clinically relevant systematic reviews to support evidence-based practice?
- ASHA Evidence Maps (Correct answer)
- ASHA's Perspectives journal series
- ASHA's Annual Convention proceedings
- ASHA's Code of Ethics
Correct answer: ASHA Evidence Maps
ASHA Evidence Maps are online tools that provide access to systematic reviews and evidence summaries organized by disorder area to support EBP.
Question 6: Internal validity in a clinical study refers to which of the following?
- The degree to which results accurately reflect a true causal relationship within the study (Correct answer)
- The extent to which results can be generalized to other populations
- The reliability of outcome measurement tools used
- The statistical significance threshold set for the study
Correct answer: The degree to which results accurately reflect a true causal relationship within the study
Internal validity refers to the extent to which a study's design and execution allow for a causal inference about the relationship between the intervention and outcome.
ASHA ASHA Research and Evidence-Based Practice 1
What is the primary framework used in ASHA's evidence-based practice (EBP) model?