Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards

Which source sits at the top of the evidence hierarchy for judging whether an intervention works in newborns?

Answer: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Systematic reviews of RCTs pool the least-biased trials and give the strongest evidence of intervention effectiveness.

A unit wants to study a rare congenital anomaly and its possible maternal exposures. Which design is most efficient?

Answer: Case-control study

Case-control designs start with affected cases and look back at exposures, which suits rare outcomes.

Investigators follow exposed and unexposed infants over time to compare the incidence of chronic lung disease. This is a:

Answer: Cohort study

A cohort study follows groups defined by exposure forward in time to compare outcome incidence.

What is the main purpose of random assignment in a clinical trial?

Answer: To distribute known and unknown confounders evenly between groups

Randomization balances both measured and unmeasured confounders, reducing selection bias.

Why are outcome assessors blinded to group assignment in a neonatal trial?

Answer: To reduce detection (measurement) bias

Blinding prevents knowledge of group assignment from influencing how outcomes are measured.

A researcher interviews parents to understand the lived experience of having an infant in the NICU. Which approach is this?

Answer: Qualitative phenomenology

Phenomenology explores the meaning of lived experiences through in-depth interviews.

Which of the following is generally considered the LOWEST level of evidence?

Answer: Expert opinion

Expert opinion and anecdotal reports rank lowest because they lack systematic methods to limit bias.