General Surgery Board Review Research & Evidence-Based Practice 3

Question 1

A prospective cohort study follows 500 smokers and 500 non-smokers for 10 years to assess colorectal cancer risk. What is the best measure of association to report?

Accepted Answer

Relative risk

Answer

Relative risk (risk ratio) is the appropriate measure of association for cohort studies because incidence can be calculated directly.

Question 2

Publication bias in surgical literature most commonly results in:

Accepted Answer

Overestimation of intervention benefits

Answer

Publication bias leads to overestimation of treatment benefits because positive trials are more likely to be published than negative ones.

Question 3

Which of the following best defines 'internal validity' of a clinical trial?

Accepted Answer

The accuracy with which the study measures what it intends to within its own sample

Answer

Internal validity refers to how well a study accurately measures the causal relationship within its specific study population.

Question 4

In a surgical RCT, 'intention-to-treat' (ITT) analysis means:

Accepted Answer

Analyzing all randomized patients in their originally assigned groups regardless of what they received

Answer

ITT analysis preserves randomization by analyzing patients in their allocated groups regardless of protocol adherence or crossover.

Question 5

Sensitivity of a diagnostic test is best defined as the probability that:

Accepted Answer

The test is positive given that disease is present

Answer

Sensitivity = TP / (TP + FN); it measures how well the test identifies patients who truly have the disease.

General Surgery Board Review Practice Test

General Surgery Board Review Practice Test

General Surgery Board Review Research & Evidence-Based Practice 3