Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real CLC 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 Methods & Evidence-Based Practice flashcards as text
In a case-control study examining a rare laboratory error type, researchers compare 50 cases with 200 controls. What is the primary measure of association used?
Answer: Odds ratio
Odds ratio is the appropriate measure in case-control studies because incidence cannot be calculated directly from such designs.
A laboratory implements a new QC algorithm. To assess its diagnostic performance, staff calculate sensitivity and specificity. Which combination best minimizes patient harm from missed critical values?
Answer: High sensitivity, low specificity
High sensitivity minimizes false negatives, ensuring critical values are rarely missed, which is paramount for patient safety.
A systematic review pools five studies on turnaround time interventions. Cochran's Q test yields p=0.02. What does this indicate?
Answer: Significant heterogeneity exists among studies
A significant Cochran's Q (p<0.10) indicates substantial statistical heterogeneity, warranting caution in pooling results.
Which of the following best describes the principle of 'intention-to-treat' analysis in a randomized controlled trial of a new laboratory workflow?
Answer: Analyzing participants based on the group they were assigned to, regardless of adherence
Intention-to-treat analysis preserves randomization and avoids bias by analyzing all participants in their originally assigned groups.
A laboratory director reviews a study with an I² value of 78%. What is the most appropriate interpretation?
Answer: High heterogeneity; a random-effects model or subgroup analysis is warranted
I² above 75% indicates high heterogeneity, suggesting a random-effects model or investigation of sources of variability is needed.
When evaluating a new laboratory test, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is constructed. An AUC of 0.95 indicates:
Answer: Excellent discriminative ability between diseased and non-diseased populations
AUC of 0.95 indicates excellent discrimination, meaning the test correctly ranks a diseased individual above a non-diseased individual 95% of the time.
A quality improvement team uses a Pareto chart to prioritize laboratory errors. Which principle underlies this tool?
Answer: Roughly 80% of problems stem from 20% of causes
The Pareto principle holds that ~80% of effects come from ~20% of causes, helping teams focus on the most impactful error sources.