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Research & Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards

7 cards from real CSC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Research & Evidence-Based Practice flashcards as text

  1. A trial comparing CABG versus PCI in multivessel CAD uses an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. What is the primary advantage of ITT?

    Answer: It preserves the benefits of randomization and minimizes bias

    ITT analysis analyzes patients in their originally assigned groups regardless of protocol deviations, preserving randomization balance and reducing bias.

  2. A new cardiac biomarker has a likelihood ratio positive (LR+) of 12. How does this affect post-test probability compared to a LR+ of 2?

    Answer: LR+ of 12 provides a larger increase in post-test probability

    Higher LR+ values produce greater increases in post-test probability; LR+ ≥ 10 is considered strong evidence for ruling in a diagnosis.

  3. During appraisal of a cardiac surgery RCT, you note the allocation concealment was inadequate. What type of bias does this risk?

    Answer: Selection bias

    Inadequate allocation concealment allows clinicians to predict and potentially influence group assignments, introducing selection bias.

  4. Which statistical test is most appropriate to compare 30-day mortality rates between two cardiac surgical techniques when the outcome is binary?

    Answer: Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test

    Chi-square or Fisher's exact test compares proportions (binary outcomes) between two independent groups.

  5. A cardiology department implements a practice change based on a Cochrane systematic review. Six months later, outcomes are audited. Which EBP step does this audit represent?

    Answer: Evaluate

    The 5th A in EBP (Evaluate) involves auditing the outcomes of the practice change to determine whether it improved patient care.

  6. A study of ICD implantation uses propensity score matching to reduce confounding. What is the primary purpose of this technique?

    Answer: To balance baseline characteristics between treated and untreated groups

    Propensity score matching balances observed covariates between groups in observational studies to reduce confounding, mimicking randomization.

  7. A cardiologist encounters conflicting evidence: a large RCT supports early invasive strategy in NSTEMI, but a recent meta-analysis is inconclusive. According to evidence hierarchy, which source generally carries more weight?

    Answer: The meta-analysis when it includes the large RCT in its analysis

    A well-conducted meta-analysis that includes the large RCT in its synthesis generally carries the highest level of evidence according to standard hierarchies.