Exam 2 Flashcards
What is the PEDro scale? List the scores
A scale used to assess the quality and reliability of clinical or randomized controlled trials (RCT)
Scoring is dependent on how many boxes it checks off
Poor: 0-3
Fair: 4-5
Good: 6-8
Excellent: 9-10
What are the 11 (10 being graded) components of the PEDro scale (used to grade a randomized controlled trial)?
(Note: 1st step does not count for the grading)
- Eligibility criteria was specified
- Subjects were randomly allocated to groups
- Allocation was concealed
- Groups were similar at baseline
- Blinding of all subjects
- Blinding of therapists that administered the therapy
- Blinding of assessor
- At least one key outcome was obtained from more than 85% of subjects
- At least one key outcome was analyzed by “intention to treat”
- Between group statistical comparison (compares statistics of one group to another)
- Contains measures of variability (standard deviations, standard error, confidence intervals, ranges)
What are the 3 types of search strategies within the PEDro database?
Simple search: A single text search
Advanced search: Has 13 fields that help refine the search
Consumer search: Contains less technical language for patients
What is a systematic review?
A summary of the literature that uses explicit methods to perform a thorough literature search and critical appraisal of individual studies
List 3 examples of evidence syntheses
- Systematic review
- Scoping review
- Clinical practice guidelines
Which tools are used to assess randomized controlled trial quality?
PEDro scale and Cochrane risk of bias tool
List the type of research questions for systematic reviews
- Intervention
- Diagnosis
- Prognosis
- Qualitative
What is a forest plot?
a graph that summarizes the results of a meta-analysis, or a study of multiple studies, by visually displaying the results of each study
Differentiate between data synthesis and meta analysis
Data Synthesis: A broad process of combining and summarizing information from several sources to form a comprehensive understanding of a topic (qualitative)
Meta Analysis: A specific statistical method used to quantitatively combine results from multiple studies to produce a single, precise estimate of an effect size, typically focusing on numerical data only (typically displayed as a forest plot)
(quantitative)
T or F? When looking at a forest plot, the bottom diamond is the “average” of all other data?
True
Describe a scoping review
- Exploratory
- Has a broad research question
- Methods include systematic search, more expansive selection criteria for study designs, does not involve methodologic appraisal
What is the purpose of critical appraisal?
To determine the scientific merit of a research report and its applicability to clinical decision making
(note: clinicians often express that one of the foremost barriers to EBP is a lack of skill in searching for and appraising the literature)
What are the 3 general questions for appraisal?
- Are the results of the study valid?
- Are the results of the study meaningful?
- Are the results relevant to my patient?
Describe the appraisal process
- Begins with finding a study relevant to your clinical question
- Read the abstract to check relevancy
- Read the full text
List the 5 parts of a research study and provide questions that correspond with each
Introduction
- Is the research question clearly stated?
- What type of research is being done?
Methods
- Were data collection procedures clearly defined?
- Was data analysis appropriate to the research question and data?
Results
- Were results presented clearly in text, tables, or figures?
- Was the effect large enough to be clinically meaningful?
Discussion
- Is the author’s interpretation of results supported by the data?
- Were the study limitations addressed?
Conclusions
- Were the participants in the study sufficiently similar to my patient?
- Is the approach feasible in my setting, and will it be acceptable to my patient?
