Evidence-Based Medicine: Review of Concepts

Question 1

What is evidence-based medicine?

Answer 1

The integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values

Question 2

The best research evidence is ____________.

Answer 2

systematic review of RCTs

Question 3

What three questions should you ask when evaluating a systematic review?

Answer 3

• Are the results valid?
• Are the results meaningful?
• Are the results relevant to my practice?

Question 4

What questions can you ask to assess if the results of a systematic review are valid?

Answer 4

• Did the reviewers use the best available evidence?
• Did the reviewers describe a comprehensive search?
• Were the individual studies assessed for validity?
• Did the reviewers begin with a clear, focused question?

Question 5

Good questions to begin with ________________.

Answer 5

(1) are restricted to a defined population, (2) have a specified set of measured outcomes, and (3) pick one intervention

Question 6

What is the difference between a systematic review and a meta-analysis?

Answer 6

Systematic reviews collect studies and compare each study’s effect, while meta-analysis numerically averages each study effect, giving a single number.

Question 7

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is now called the _______________.

Answer 7

National Academy of Medicine (NAM)

Question 8

What distinguishes a narrative literature review from a systematic review?

Answer 8

Literature reviews do not use a defined system and are thus subject to selection bias.

Question 9

What criteria need to be defined in a good systematic review?

Answer 9

PICOS
Population 
Intervention 
Comparison/control
Outcome
Study types

Question 10

What is publication bias?

Answer 10

Studies with positive results are more likely to be published, so searching from only published results yields a sample that is more likely to contain false positives.