NBCE Research and Development 5

Question 1

In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, blinding applies to:

Accepted Answer

Both the participants and the investigators administering treatment

Answer

Only the statistician analyzing the data

Answer

Both the participants and the outcome assessors, but not the treating clinician

Answer

The data safety monitoring board only

Question 2

Which study design is most suitable for investigating a rare adverse event potentially associated with spinal manipulation?

Accepted Answer

Case-control study

Answer

Randomized controlled trial

Answer

Prospective cohort study

Answer

Cross-sectional study

Question 3

Forest plots in meta-analyses display:

Accepted Answer

Effect estimates and confidence intervals from individual studies alongside a pooled estimate

Answer

The geographic distribution of study populations

Answer

Funnel plot asymmetry to detect publication bias

Answer

Kaplan-Meier survival curves for each included trial

Question 4

Randomization in clinical trials primarily serves to:

Accepted Answer

Balance known and unknown confounders between treatment groups

Answer

Ensure the sample is representative of the general population

Answer

Eliminate measurement error in outcome assessment

Answer

Increase the precision of the primary outcome measure

Question 5

The Belmont Report established three core ethical principles for human research. Which combination is correct?

Accepted Answer

Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice

Answer

Fidelity, veracity, and nonmaleficence

Answer

Autonomy, beneficence, and fidelity

Answer

Justice, nonmaleficence, and informed consent

Question 6

Sensitivity analysis in a systematic review is conducted to:

Accepted Answer

Test whether overall conclusions change when specific studies or assumptions are altered

Answer

Calculate the sensitivity of the primary diagnostic test under study

Answer

Assess the methodological quality of each included study independently

Answer

Determine the minimum sample size required for statistical significance

Question 7

Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis in a clinical trial means that:

Accepted Answer

All randomized participants are analyzed in their originally assigned groups regardless of adherence

Answer

Only participants who completed the full treatment protocol are included in the analysis

Answer

Participants are analyzed according to the treatment they actually received

Answer

The analysis is conducted by an investigator blinded to group assignment