NCCPA Research and Advocacy 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A meta-analysis pools results from multiple studies primarily to:
- Replace the need for original research
- Increase statistical power and precision of effect estimates (Correct answer)
- Eliminate publication bias
- Standardize data collection instruments
Correct answer: Increase statistical power and precision of effect estimates
Meta-analysis combines data across studies to increase sample size, improving statistical power and the precision of effect estimates.
Question 2: Which ethical principle requires that research participants receive complete information about a study before consenting?
- Beneficence
- Justice
- Autonomy (informed consent) (Correct answer)
- Nonmaleficence
Correct answer: Autonomy (informed consent)
Autonomy is protected through informed consent, ensuring participants understand risks, benefits, and procedures before agreeing to participate.
Question 3: A PA advocates for patients by writing a letter to their congressional representative about access to care. This is best categorized as:
- Bedside advocacy
- Interprofessional advocacy
- Civic/legislative advocacy (Correct answer)
- Organizational advocacy
Correct answer: Civic/legislative advocacy
Contacting elected officials about healthcare access represents civic and legislative advocacy aimed at influencing policy.
Question 4: Internal validity in a clinical trial is most threatened by:
- A small sample size limiting generalizability
- Systematic bias such as selection bias or confounding (Correct answer)
- Publication in a low-impact journal
- Narrow inclusion criteria
Correct answer: Systematic bias such as selection bias or confounding
Internal validity is threatened by systematic biases — such as selection bias or confounding — that distort the true relationship between variables.
Question 5: The 'number needed to treat' (NNT) is calculated as:
- Relative risk divided by absolute risk
- 1 divided by absolute risk reduction (Correct answer)
- Odds ratio minus relative risk
- Incidence rate multiplied by exposure duration
Correct answer: 1 divided by absolute risk reduction
NNT = 1 / Absolute Risk Reduction, representing how many patients must be treated for one additional patient to benefit.
Question 6: Which PA advocacy activity would most directly affect state-level scope of practice laws?
- Presenting at a national medical conference
- Testifying before a state legislative committee (Correct answer)
- Publishing in a peer-reviewed journal
- Joining a hospital quality committee
Correct answer: Testifying before a state legislative committee
Testifying before state legislative committees directly influences lawmakers who draft and vote on scope of practice legislation.
Question 7: In research ethics, the Belmont Report established three core principles. Which is NOT one of them?
- Respect for persons
- Beneficence
- Justice
- Fidelity (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Fidelity
The Belmont Report's three principles are respect for persons, beneficence, and justice; fidelity is not among them.
NCCPA Research and Advocacy 3
A meta-analysis pools results from multiple studies primarily to: