MPT Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice 3

Question 1

The PICO framework used in evidence-based practice stands for:

Accepted Answer

Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome

Answer

PICO (Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) provides a structured format for formulating answerable clinical questions to guide efficient literature searches.

Question 2

Publication bias in research most commonly refers to:

Accepted Answer

Journals preferentially publishing studies with positive or statistically significant results

Answer

Publication bias occurs when studies with positive or significant findings are more likely to be submitted and accepted, causing the literature to overrepresent favorable outcomes.

Question 3

Which study design is most appropriate for determining the prevalence of low back pain in a population at a single point in time?

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional study

Answer

Cross-sectional studies measure exposure and outcome simultaneously at one time point, making them ideal for estimating disease prevalence in a population.

Question 4

External validity in a research study refers to:

Accepted Answer

Whether the study results can be generalized to other populations and clinical settings

Answer

External validity (generalizability or applicability) concerns whether findings from a study sample can be applied meaningfully to broader populations and real-world clinical contexts.

Question 5

In a forest plot from a meta-analysis, a diamond that crosses the vertical line of no effect indicates:

Accepted Answer

The pooled treatment effect is not statistically significant

Answer

The diamond in a forest plot represents the pooled estimate; if it crosses the line of no effect (RR=1 or mean difference=0), the result is not statistically significant.

MPT - Master of Physical Therapy Practice Test

MPT - Master of Physical Therapy Practice Test

MPT Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice 3