ASPS Research, Evidence-Based Practice & Clinical Outcomes 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which level of evidence is considered the highest quality in the evidence-based medicine hierarchy?
- Expert opinion and case reports
- Randomized controlled trials
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Correct answer)
- Cohort studies
Correct answer: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesize data from multiple high-quality RCTs, providing the highest level of evidence in the hierarchy.
Question 2: In a randomized controlled trial evaluating a new breast reconstruction technique, the CONSORT checklist is used primarily to:
- Allocate patients to treatment groups
- Standardize reporting of trial results (Correct answer)
- Calculate sample size requirements
- Obtain institutional review board approval
Correct answer: Standardize reporting of trial results
CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) is a reporting guideline that ensures transparent and complete reporting of RCT methodology and results.
Question 3: A plastic surgeon wants to study complication rates of rhinoplasty over 10 years using existing medical records. This is best described as a:
- Prospective cohort study
- Cross-sectional study
- Retrospective cohort study (Correct answer)
- Case-control study
Correct answer: Retrospective cohort study
A retrospective cohort study uses existing records to follow a defined group over time from past exposure to outcome.
Question 4: Which statistical measure represents the probability of a study finding a true effect when one actually exists?
- Specificity
- Statistical power (1 - β) (Correct answer)
- Positive predictive value
- Alpha level (α)
Correct answer: Statistical power (1 - β)
Statistical power (1 - β) is the probability of correctly rejecting a false null hypothesis, i.e., detecting a true effect.
Question 5: The BREAST-Q is a validated patient-reported outcome measure used specifically to assess:
- Intraoperative blood loss in breast surgery
- Surgeon satisfaction with operative technique
- Patient quality of life and satisfaction after breast procedures (Correct answer)
- Breast implant device integrity
Correct answer: Patient quality of life and satisfaction after breast procedures
The BREAST-Q is a validated PRO instrument designed to measure quality of life and patient satisfaction across multiple domains following breast surgery.
Question 6: In clinical research, allocation concealment is most important for preventing:
- Loss to follow-up bias
- Selection bias during randomization (Correct answer)
- Performance bias from unblinded participants
- Publication bias in the literature
Correct answer: Selection bias during randomization
Allocation concealment prevents researchers from knowingly or unknowingly assigning patients to specific groups based on predicted outcomes, reducing selection bias.
Question 7: A number needed to treat (NNT) of 10 for a postoperative complication prophylaxis means:
- 10% of patients will experience a complication regardless of treatment
- 10 patients must be treated to prevent one additional complication (Correct answer)
- The drug is 10 times more effective than placebo
- There is a 10% absolute risk reduction with treatment
Correct answer: 10 patients must be treated to prevent one additional complication
NNT is the number of patients who need to receive a treatment to prevent one additional adverse outcome compared to the control.
ASPS Research, Evidence-Based Practice & Clinical Outcomes 1
Which level of evidence is considered the highest quality in the evidence-based medicine hierarchy?