OCC OCC Evidence-Based Medicine & Research

Question 1

Which type of study provides the highest level of evidence in evidence-based medicine hierarchy?

Accepted Answer

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Answer

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses pooling data from multiple high-quality RCTs sit at the top of the evidence hierarchy.

Question 2

In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), what is the purpose of blinding participants and investigators?

Accepted Answer

To reduce performance and detection bias

Answer

Blinding prevents performance bias (participants changing behavior) and detection bias (investigators interpreting outcomes differently) when they know the treatment assignment.

Question 3

A study reports a relative risk (RR) of 0.6 for a new drug compared to placebo for MI. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

The drug reduces MI risk by 40% relative to placebo

Answer

RR of 0.6 means the treated group has 60% of the risk of the control group — a 40% relative risk reduction.

Question 4

What is the number needed to treat (NNT) if the absolute risk reduction (ARR) of a treatment is 5%?

Accepted Answer

20

Answer

NNT = 1/ARR = 1/0.05 = 20, meaning 20 patients need to be treated for 1 additional patient to benefit.

Question 5

In a diagnostic test evaluation, a test with high sensitivity is best used for which purpose?

Accepted Answer

Screening (ruling out disease when negative)

Answer

A highly sensitive test has few false negatives — a negative result effectively rules out disease (SnNout: Sensitive test, Negative result = rule Out).

OCC - Osteopathic Continuous Certification Practice Test

OCC - Osteopathic Continuous Certification Practice Test

OCC OCC Evidence-Based Medicine & Research