CCC CCC ASHA Research & Evidence-Based Practice 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to ASHA, what are the three components of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) that SLPs must integrate?
- Client preferences, billing guidelines, and clinical tradition
- Current best research evidence, clinical expertise, and client values/preferences (Correct answer)
- Supervisor recommendations, published protocols, and insurance requirements
- Standardized tests, therapy manuals, and CEU courses
Correct answer: Current best research evidence, clinical expertise, and client values/preferences
ASHA's EBP framework requires integration of the best available external research evidence, the clinician's expertise and experience, and the client's values and preferences.
Question 2: In research hierarchy for EBP, which study design provides the highest level of evidence?
- Case study
- Expert opinion
- Systematic review or meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Correct answer)
- Single-subject experimental design
Correct answer: Systematic review or meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials sit at the top of the evidence hierarchy because they synthesize the strongest individual study designs.
Question 3: Which ASHA resource is specifically designed to help SLPs locate evidence-based systematic reviews relevant to clinical practice?
- ASHA Leader magazine
- ASHA Practice Portal (Correct answer)
- Praxis Study Guide
- ASHA Convention program
Correct answer: ASHA Practice Portal
The ASHA Practice Portal provides clinicians with access to evidence maps, clinical topics, and summaries of systematic reviews to support evidence-based clinical decision-making.
Question 4: What is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and why is it valued in SLP research?
- A study where all participants receive the same treatment to compare notes
- A study in which participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups to reduce bias (Correct answer)
- A longitudinal study following one client over many years
- A survey of clinician opinions on best practices
Correct answer: A study in which participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups to reduce bias
An RCT randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups, minimizing selection bias and allowing stronger causal inferences about treatment efficacy.
Question 5: What does the term 'treatment fidelity' mean in the context of SLP clinical research?
- Loyalty of clients to the treating clinician
- The degree to which an intervention is implemented as intended and described in the protocol (Correct answer)
- The accuracy of standardized test scoring
- Consistency of billing procedures
Correct answer: The degree to which an intervention is implemented as intended and described in the protocol
Treatment fidelity refers to how accurately and consistently a treatment protocol is implemented as designed, which is essential for interpreting research results and replicating interventions.
Question 6: When critically appraising a study for EBP, which question addresses the clinical applicability of the research findings?
- Was the sample size large enough for statistical significance?
- Are the results valid and applicable to my client given their characteristics and context? (Correct answer)
- Was the researcher affiliated with a major university?
- Was the study published in a peer-reviewed journal?
Correct answer: Are the results valid and applicable to my client given their characteristics and context?
Applicability assessment asks whether the research participants and conditions are similar enough to the SLP's client to justify applying the findings in that clinical context.
CCC CCC ASHA Research & Evidence-Based Practice 1
According to ASHA, what are the three components of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) that SLPs must integrate?