Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine

Question 1

Define evidence based veterinary medicine

Answer 1

The process of systematically reviewing, appraising and using clinical research to aid delivery of optimum clinical care to patients

Question 2

What are the 5 main steps of EBVM?

Answer 2

1- Ask specific question
2- Search for best information
3- Critically appraise information
4- Apply it to a clinical situation
5- review and update

Question 3

What is PICO?

Answer 3

PICO is a technique to asking a specific question
Patient- define patient and condition
Intervention- Drug or procedure 
Comparator- active control/placebo
Outcome- define clinical responce

Question 4

How can you critically appraise information?

Answer 4

Amount and depth of evidence, quality of evidence, balance of evidence

Question 5

Put these information sources in order according to the hierarchy of information from weakest to strongest:
Cohort Study
Case Control
Meta-analysis
Anecdote/expert opinon 
Systematic review
Case report/ case series

Answer 5

Anecdote/expert opinion
Case report/case series
Case control study
Cohort study
Randomised controlled trial
Meta-analysis 
Systematic review

Question 6

What is the problem with anecdotes and expert opinions for gathering information?

Answer 6

No data involved

Question 7

What is the problem with case report and series?

Answer 7

Retrospective, uncontrolled and potentially unrepresentative

Question 8

What are problems and positives of case control studies?

Answer 8

Positives- compares cases with a group of controls

Problems- Usually retrospective, not blinded or randomised

Question 9

What are the positives and problems of cohort studies?

Answer 9

Follows cases to see what happens, can assist different treatments
Not blinded or randomised

Question 10

What are the positives of randomised controlled trial?

Answer 10

Compare treatment to control (placebo or another treatment), prospective, randomised, blinded

Question 11

What makes a systematic reviews the best information?

Answer 11

Reviews all published work, critically appraises and uses high quality of evidence

Question 12

What are the reasons for scientific research?

Answer 12

Systematic investigation into a specific problem
To establish or confirm facts
Develop new theories
Test existing problems
Solve problems

Question 13

Describe the scientific method

Answer 13

Formulation of hypothesis based on careful and objective observation
Test prediction of hypotheses through experiment/measurement
Use findings to refine or eliminate hypothesis
Hypothesis must be falsifiable and testable
Literature review- collect and critically assess existing knowlege
Conduct initial observations to clarify biological question to be addressed
Gain funding to support study

Question 14

What are three examples of primary research?

Answer 14

Theoretical modelling, observational studies, experimental manipulation

Question 15

What is theoretical modelling?

Answer 15

Explores how theory predicts a systems- generates predictions for empirical data

Question 16

What are some important considerations of research design?

Answer 16

Major goals- representative subjects for draw conclusion
Minimise random variation- obscures effects on interest
Amount of confounding factors
Random sampling
Random allocation

Question 17

Why are replications important important in research design?

Answer 17

The more replicates the greater confidence

Difficult to interpret no significant difference with small sample size

Question 18

What is important about data collection for research?

Answer 18

Calibration of instruments- accurate and consistent
Calibration of observer
Keep detailed field journey/lab book