IBCLC IBCLC - Certification Research and Evidence-Based Practice 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What study design is considered the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of a breastfeeding intervention?
- Case-control study
- Randomized controlled trial (Correct answer)
- Cross-sectional study
- Case series
Correct answer: Randomized controlled trial
Randomized controlled trials minimize bias through random assignment and are the gold standard for evaluating clinical interventions.
Question 2: In evidence-based practice, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials represents which level of evidence?
- Level IV
- Level III
- Level I (Correct answer)
- Level II
Correct answer: Level I
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs are classified as Level I evidence, the highest level in the evidence hierarchy.
Question 3: What does NNT (number needed to treat) represent in clinical research?
- The number of patients who experience adverse effects
- The number of patients who must receive treatment for one to benefit (Correct answer)
- The number of trials needed to confirm a finding
- The number of nurses needed per treatment session
Correct answer: The number of patients who must receive treatment for one to benefit
NNT is the number of patients who need to receive a treatment for one additional patient to benefit compared to a control condition.
Question 4: Which statistical measure indicates the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables?
- p-value
- Confidence interval
- Correlation coefficient (Correct answer)
- Odds ratio
Correct answer: Correlation coefficient
A correlation coefficient (r) ranges from -1 to +1 and indicates both the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables.
Question 5: Which bias occurs when study participants alter their behavior because they know they are being observed?
- Selection bias
- Hawthorne effect (Correct answer)
- Recall bias
- Attrition bias
Correct answer: Hawthorne effect
The Hawthorne effect occurs when participants change their behavior as a result of being aware that they are under observation.
Question 6: What is the IBCLC's primary obligation when applying research findings to clinical practice?
- Follow only the most recent studies regardless of quality
- Integrate best evidence with clinical expertise and client values (Correct answer)
- Apply only findings from US-based studies
- Use evidence only when it confirms established protocols
Correct answer: Integrate best evidence with clinical expertise and client values
Evidence-based practice integrates best available research evidence with clinical expertise and the client's individual values and circumstances.
IBCLC IBCLC - Certification Research and Evidence-Based Practice 1
What study design is considered the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of a breastfeeding intervention?