Data Analysis & Reporting Flashcards
7 cards from real CRE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Data Analysis & Reporting flashcards as text
A respiratory educator reviews spirometry data showing an FEV1/FVC ratio of 0.65 post-bronchodilator. How should this finding be classified?
Answer: Obstructive pattern
An FEV1/FVC ratio below 0.70 post-bronchodilator confirms obstructive airflow limitation per GOLD criteria.
When analyzing peak flow variability data, a diurnal variation greater than what percentage is generally considered significant for asthma diagnosis?
Answer: 20%
Peak flow diurnal variability greater than 20% is a significant indicator of airway instability consistent with asthma.
A CRE is evaluating a patient's 6-minute walk test results over three visits. Distance decreased from 420m to 380m to 350m. What trend does this data suggest?
Answer: Progressive decline in exercise tolerance
A consistent decrease in 6MWT distance across serial measurements indicates progressive decline in functional exercise capacity.
Which statistical measure is most appropriate to report when summarizing FEV1 percent predicted values across a heterogeneous patient population?
Answer: Median with interquartile range
Median with IQR is preferred for skewed or heterogeneous distributions, providing a more robust central tendency estimate.
A pulmonary rehab program reports a 15% improvement in 6MWT distance. Which additional data point would best contextualize clinical significance?
Answer: Minimal clinically important difference (MCID)
The MCID for 6MWT (approximately 25-35m) determines whether a percentage change reflects a meaningful clinical benefit.
In an educational program outcome report, a CRE notes that 60% of COPD patients achieved target inhaler technique scores. What type of data is this?
Answer: Proportional/rate data
A percentage of patients achieving a target represents proportional data, expressing outcomes as rates or proportions.
A respiratory educator compares pre- and post-education SpO2 readings during exercise. Which statistical test is most appropriate for this paired data?
Answer: Paired t-test
A paired t-test is used to compare means from the same subjects measured at two time points, controlling for individual variability.