Final Written exam - Week 2

Question 1

What are the difference signs of Pseudoscience vs Science?

Answer 1

Pseudoscience:
Extraordinary claims
Tends not to change over time
Avoids peer-review

Science:
Cautious claims
Tends to change over time
Is subject to peer-review

Question 2

What are the various aspects of the EBM Triad?

Answer 2

1. Patient values and expectations
2. Individual clinical expertise
3. Best external evidence

Question 3

What are the 5 steps of EBM?

Answer 3

1. Converting the need for information into a question.
2. Finding evidence to answer the question.
3. Appraise the research for vadility.
4. Apply the research evidence with expertise.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of the process.

Question 4

What is the difference between evidence nihilism, agendaism and appropriatism?

Answer 4

Appropriatism: The ideal.
Nihilism: One cannot act until definitive
evidence is available. The absence of evidence qualifies as evidence against, as does conflicting evidence.
Agendaism: Selective use of evidence to bolster one’s preconceived notion. Third party payors may rely on ‘following a guideline’ to restrict coverage of services.

Question 5

Name and describe some of the various causes of cognitive bias.

Answer 5

Emotions
Motivation
Age
Social influence

Question 6

Name and describe some of the various causes of bias in research.

Answer 6

Funding Bias: Research findings may be influenced by the source of funding.

Selection Bias: Participants are not representative of the population, leading to skewed results.

Measurement Bias: Errors in data collection or measurement tools distort the findings.

Question 7

What is the difference between placebo and nocebo?

Answer 7

Placebo effect: When a person’s outcome measure appears to improve after receiving an intervention that ought to have no therapeutic effect.

Nocebo Effect: When a person’s outcome measure worsens due to the belief an intervention will cause them harm.

Question 8

What is the difference between ‘Black & White’ and ‘Grey’ Literature?

Answer 8

Black and White’ Literature: Peer reviewed, easily accessible.

Grey literature:
Is not peer reviewed and hard to the find.

Question 9

What does the SF-36 measure?

Answer 9

• pain
• physical
• functioning
• physical role
• mental health
• social function
• vitality
• emotional role
• general health

Question 10

Describe what a retrospective, prospective, and longitudinal study are?

Answer 10

Retrospective studies gather data on past events – typically case studies, observational studies, surveys and interviews.

Prospective studies follow subjects going forward in time. RCTs and other clinical trials are prospective in nature.

Longitudinal studies follow subjects over a long period of time. These tend to be the most expensive studies to conduct and are hampered by attrition.

Question 11

What is knowledge translation?

Answer 11

is the process of taking knowledge — usually research findings — and making it understandable, accessible, and useful to the people who need it, such as healthcare providers, policymakers, patients, or the general public.

Question 12

Discuss the current limitations of chiropractic research in Australia?

Answer 12

• Limited funds
• Few full-time chiropractic researchers
• Few chiropractic education programs