CHC Evidence-Based Practice & Research Methods 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In healthcare construction research, what does a 'systematic review' differ from a 'narrative review' in?
- Systematic reviews use predefined protocols and reproducible search strategies (Correct answer)
- Narrative reviews are always published in peer-reviewed journals
- Systematic reviews rely solely on qualitative data
- Narrative reviews require statistical meta-analysis
Correct answer: Systematic reviews use predefined protocols and reproducible search strategies
Systematic reviews follow a rigorous, pre-specified protocol with comprehensive and reproducible literature searches, unlike informal narrative reviews.
Question 2: A CHC project manager wants to evaluate whether single-corridor ICU layouts reduce infection rates compared to double-corridor layouts. Which study design provides the strongest causal evidence?
- Cross-sectional survey
- Case report
- Randomized controlled trial or quasi-experimental design (Correct answer)
- Expert opinion consensus
Correct answer: Randomized controlled trial or quasi-experimental design
Randomized or quasi-experimental designs control for confounding variables and provide the strongest causal inference for comparing interventions.
Question 3: When applying evidence to a healthcare construction project, 'external validity' refers to:
- Whether the study's findings can be generalized to other settings or populations (Correct answer)
- The accuracy of measurements within the original study
- Compliance with external regulatory standards
- The financial validity of the project budget
Correct answer: Whether the study's findings can be generalized to other settings or populations
External validity (generalizability) determines whether research findings can be applied to contexts beyond the original study population.
Question 4: Which statistical measure is most useful when combining results from multiple studies in a meta-analysis of healthcare facility outcomes?
- Standard deviation of a single study
- Pooled effect size with confidence intervals (Correct answer)
- Raw p-value from one study
- Median score from expert surveys
Correct answer: Pooled effect size with confidence intervals
Meta-analysis produces a pooled effect size with confidence intervals, quantifying the combined evidence across studies with appropriate uncertainty estimates.
Question 5: A hospital system adopts HCAI prevention guidelines based on research conducted in European hospitals. Before applying these guidelines to a U.S. project, the CHC professional should primarily assess:
- The age of the research team
- Differences in patient populations, building codes, and healthcare delivery models (Correct answer)
- Whether the guidelines were published in English
- The total square footage of the European hospitals studied
Correct answer: Differences in patient populations, building codes, and healthcare delivery models
Contextual differences in patient demographics, regulatory requirements, and care delivery can affect the applicability of foreign research to U.S. healthcare construction.
Question 6: In the FGI Guidelines development process, evidence from post-occupancy evaluations (POEs) primarily contributes to:
- Real-world performance data that informs future guideline revisions (Correct answer)
- Legal liability documentation for contractors
- Initial project cost estimating
- Structural engineering calculations
Correct answer: Real-world performance data that informs future guideline revisions
POEs collect real-world data on how completed facilities perform, which feeds back into evidence-based guideline updates.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'publication bias' and why it matters in healthcare construction evidence reviews?
- Researchers prefer publishing only studies about new building technologies
- Studies with positive or statistically significant results are more likely to be published, skewing the evidence base (Correct answer)
- Peer reviewers favor authors from prestigious institutions
- Construction journals only accept studies funded by manufacturers
Correct answer: Studies with positive or statistically significant results are more likely to be published, skewing the evidence base
Publication bias inflates apparent effectiveness of interventions because null or negative findings are underreported, distorting the evidence base.
CHC Evidence-Based Practice & Research Methods 3
In healthcare construction research, what does a 'systematic review' differ from a 'narrative review' in?