Section 23 Flashcards
(40 cards)
What is the role of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in emergency care?
To integrate clinical expertise, patient values, and the best available research to improve patient outcomes.
What are the key components of evidence-based medicine?
Clinical expertise, best research evidence, and patient values and preferences.
How is clinical evidence graded in EBM?
Based on study design, sample size, bias control, and reproducibility, with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) at the top.
What is the purpose of a systematic review in emergency medicine?
To synthesize all relevant studies on a specific topic to guide clinical decision-making.
How is meta-analysis used in emergency medicine research?
To combine results from multiple studies to improve statistical power and estimate effect size.
What is the significance of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in EBM?
It is the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions in a controlled environment.
What is bias in clinical research?
Systematic errors that can affect the validity of study findings.
How is bias minimized in clinical studies?
Through randomization, blinding, and proper study design.
What is the purpose of a cohort study in emergency medicine?
To follow a group of patients over time to determine risk factors and outcomes.
What is the difference between retrospective and prospective studies?
Retrospective studies look back at existing data, while prospective studies follow patients forward in time.
How is statistical significance determined in research?
Using p-values (typically <0.05) to measure the probability that results are due to chance.
What does the confidence interval (CI) indicate in emergency medicine research?
The range within which the true effect size is expected to lie, with a given level of confidence (e.g., 95%).
What is the purpose of a clinical guideline in emergency care?
To provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of specific conditions.
How is a case-control study structured?
It compares patients with a condition (cases) to those without (controls) to identify risk factors.
What is publication bias?
The tendency for studies with positive results to be published more frequently than those with negative or inconclusive findings.
What is the role of peer review in emergency medicine research?
To validate the quality and reliability of research before publication.
How is a clinical pathway used in emergency settings?
To outline evidence-based steps for managing specific clinical problems efficiently.
What is the purpose of a quality improvement (QI) study in emergency care?
To identify gaps in care and implement strategies to improve patient outcomes.
How are patient outcomes measured in emergency medicine research?
Through metrics like mortality, recovery time, readmission rates, and complication frequencies.
What is the difference between absolute risk reduction (ARR) and relative risk reduction (RRR)?
ARR is the difference in event rates between two groups, while RRR is the proportional reduction in risk.
What is the importance of intention-to-treat analysis in clinical trials?
It preserves the benefits of randomization by analyzing participants in their original assigned groups, regardless of protocol adherence.
How is number needed to treat (NNT) calculated?
NNT is calculated as the inverse of the absolute risk reduction (1/ARR).
What is a hazard ratio in clinical research?
It compares the risk of an event occurring in the treatment group versus the control group over time.
What is the purpose of a sensitivity analysis in research?
To test the robustness of study findings by varying key assumptions or parameters.
