Question 1

A nurse identifies an unusual incidence of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)in school-age children in a nearby community and conducts a study to examine exposure to a variety of water pollutants from a local industry.This is an example of a
A) phenomenological study.
B) qualitative study.
C) prospective cohort study.
D) retrospective cohort study.

Accepted Answer

A retrospective cohort study is an epidemiologic study in which the researcher identifies a group of people who have experienced a particular event and examines possible previous causes for this event.Qualitative and phenomenological studies are nonexperimental studies to examine attributes of groups of subjects.A prospective cohort study is an epidemiologic study in which the researcher identifies a group of people who are at risk for a condition and follows them over time.

Question 2

What is the role of evidence-based practice in outcomes research?
A) Evidence-based practice identifies practice standards that can be evaluated using patient outcomes.
B) Evidence-based practice defines practice styles and patterns used in professional practice.
C) The standards used in evidence-based practice clearly identify desired patient outcomes.
D) There is a clear link between evidence-based practice and improved patient outcomes.

Accepted Answer

EBP guidelines contain standards and norms against which patient outcomes can be evaluated.Practice styles and patterns represent variations in what type of care and how care is delivered and are part of clinical guidelines.Very few empirical studies have assessed the impact of EBP on patient outcomes.

Question 3

Which of the following are true statements about the mixed-methods design strategy known as convergent concurrent strategy? Select all that apply.
A) A strategy used when the researcher collects and analyzes quantitative data,and then collects and analyzes qualitative data to explain the quantitative findings.
B) It is selected when a researcher wishes to use quantitative and qualitative methods to confirm,cross-validate,or corroborate findings using a single sample or two samples from the same population.
C) A strategy used when the researcher collects quantitative and qualitative data at the same time,analyzes each set of data,and integrates the findings.
D) It may be used when the researcher wants to expand on what is known about a phenomenon and the researcher does not want the content of the quantitative instruments to bias data collected qualitatively.
E) Parallel design is often called exploratory sequential strategy because quantitative and qualitative data collection processes are conducted at the same time.

Accepted Answer

Convergent concurrent strategy is selected when a researcher wishes to use quantitative and qualitative methods to confirm,cross-validate,or corroborate findings using a single sample or two samples from the same population.It is also used when the researcher collects quantitative and qualitative data at the same time,analyzes each set of data,and integrates the findings.Explanatory sequential strategy is used when the researcher collects and analyzes quantitative data,and then collects and analyzes qualitative data to explain the quantitative findings.Exploratory sequential designs may be used when the researcher wants to expand on what is known about a phenomenon and the researcher does not want the content of the quantitative instruments to bias data collected qualitatively.Parallel design is often called convergent concurrent strategy because quantitative and qualitative data collection processes are conducted at the same time.

Question 4

Which of the following are true statements about critical appraisal of outcomes studies? Select all that apply.
A) Focus on similarity of the exposed cohort and unexposed (control)cohort
B) Focus on adequacy and completeness of follow-up
C) Focus on reliability and validity of the outcome measure(s)
D) Focus on statistical and clinical insignificance of the study findings
E) Focus on differences of the exposed cohort and unexposed (control)cohort

Accepted Answer

Critical appraisal of outcomes studies focuses on similarity of the exposed cohort and unexposed (control)cohort,adequacy and completeness of follow-up,reliability and validity of the outcome measure(s),and statistical and clinical significance of the study findings.

Question 5

A nurse uses a care map to guide nursing interventions for patients with COPD.This is an example of using
A) evidence-based practice.
B) practice patterns.
C) practice styles.
D) standards of care.

Accepted Answer

A standard of care is a norm according to which quality of care is judged and includes guidelines,critical paths,and care maps.Evidence-based practice includes clinical guidelines,critical paths,and standards of care.A practice pattern is a concept representing the variation in what type of care is provided.A practice style represents variation in how care is provided.

Question 6

A researcher wishes to widely disseminate findings of outcomes research to influence practice in a variety of settings.Which methods might this researcher use?
A) A series of presentations and publications in professional and public forums
B) An oral presentation at an international conference
C) Publication in scholarly,peer-reviewed journals
D) Writing about this research in a chapter of a nursing textbook

Accepted Answer

Employing a series of presentations and publications in many venues is the only approach that achieves a widespread dissemination of the research findings.An open forum for exchange of ideas is excellent but is not sufficient in the eyes of outcomes researchers.Outcomes researchers consider wide dissemination of the results to providers and consumers necessary to promote change in healthcare practices.Presenting the findings,even at a prestigious conference,is not sufficient in the eyes of outcomes researchers.Outcomes researchers consider wide dissemination of the results to providers and consumers necessary to promote change in healthcare practices.

Question 7

A researcher identifies a group of Native American subjects who are at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and follows this group over time to observe actual rates of acquiring this disease.This is an example of a
A) clinical database.
B) prospective cohort study.
C) qualitative study.
D) quasi-experimental study.

Accepted Answer

A prospective cohort study is an epidemiologic study in which the researcher identifies a group of people who are at risk for a condition and follows them over time.A clinical database is a collection of data about a group of patients.A qualitative study is a nonexperimental study to examine attributes of a group of subjects.A quasi-experimental study is one in which the researcher has less control over independent variables than in a random-controlled trial.

Question 8

What type of sample is generally used in outcomes studies?
A) Small sample
B) Heterogeneous sample
C) Homogeneous sample
D) Volunteer sample

Accepted Answer

Because the target population in outcomes studies is often heterogeneous,it is necessary to obtain large,heterogeneous samples.A small sample would not provide a heterogeneous sample.Typical sampling criteria for outcomes research include obtaining a very large,heterogeneous sample in which all patients have the likelihood of being represented.A volunteer sample is generally not encouraged,as it does not allow for the researcher to influence the sample characteristics.

Question 9

Which type of study design is commonly used in outcomes studies?
A) Phenomenological
B) Qualitative
C) Quasi-experimental
D) Random-control trial

Accepted Answer

Quasi-experimental studies and observational research designs are most commonly used for outcomes research to provide effectiveness and efficiency.Phenomenological and qualitative studies do not account for effects of variables on patient outcomes.Random-controlled trials also seek to provide evidence about the effects interventions,but,with outcomes studies,the intervention is not limited to medications or clinical procedures.

Quiz 14: Introduction to Additional Research Methodologies in Nursing: Mixed Methods and Outcomes Research

A nurse identifies an unusual incidence of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in school-age children in a nearby community and conducts a study to examine exposure to a variety of water pollutants from a local industry.This is an example of a

What is the role of evidence-based practice in outcomes research?

Which of the following are true statements about the mixed-methods design strategy known as convergent concurrent strategy? Select all that apply.

Which of the following are true statements about critical appraisal of outcomes studies? Select all that apply.

A nurse uses a care map to guide nursing interventions for patients with COPD.This is an example of using

A researcher wishes to widely disseminate findings of outcomes research to influence practice in a variety of settings.Which methods might this researcher use?

A researcher identifies a group of Native American subjects who are at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and follows this group over time to observe actual rates of acquiring this disease.This is an example of a

What type of sample is generally used in outcomes studies?

Which type of study design is commonly used in outcomes studies?