ASPS Research, Evidence-Based Practice & Clinical Outcomes 3

Question 1

In evidence-based plastic surgery, a forest plot in a meta-analysis displays:

Accepted Answer

Effect sizes from individual studies and a pooled summary estimate

Answer

A forest plot visually presents the effect size and confidence interval from each included study along with a diamond representing the pooled summary estimate.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes a prospective cohort study design in plastic surgery research?

Accepted Answer

Patients are followed forward in time from exposure to observe subsequent outcomes

Answer

In a prospective cohort study, participants are enrolled based on exposure status and followed forward in time to observe the development of outcomes.

Question 3

When evaluating implant-based breast reconstruction outcomes, the FDA's MAUDE database is used to report:

Accepted Answer

Medical device adverse events and device failures

Answer

MAUDE (Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience) is an FDA database collecting mandatory and voluntary reports of medical device adverse events and malfunctions.

Question 4

In clinical outcomes research, an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis includes:

Accepted Answer

All randomized patients regardless of protocol adherence or dropout

Answer

ITT analysis includes all randomized patients in their originally assigned groups regardless of compliance, dropout, or crossover, preserving the benefits of randomization.

Question 5

Which statistical test is most appropriate for comparing a continuous outcome (e.g., scar width) between two independent groups of patients?

Accepted Answer

Independent samples t-test

Answer

An independent samples t-test compares the means of a continuous outcome between two unrelated (independent) groups when data are normally distributed.

(ASPS) American Society of Plastic Surgeons Practice Test

(ASPS) American Society of Plastic Surgeons Practice Test

ASPS Research, Evidence-Based Practice & Clinical Outcomes 3