Systematically Designed Recommendations Based On Review
Systematically Designed Recommendations Based Upon Review Of Clinical
“Systematically designed recommendations based upon review of clinical research to assist the healthcare provider in making patient care decisions” is what type of evidence?
Group of answer choices:
- Clinical practice guideline
- Case study
- Randomized control trial
- Expert opinion
In traditional outpatient therapy facilities, physical therapy services are provided within which of the following team models?
Group of answer choices:
- interprofessional model
- transdisciplinary model
- intradisciplinary model
- multidisciplinary model
Select the most important reason for research in physical therapy.
Group of answer choices:
- Improving patient care
- Obtaining continuing education units
- Guaranteeing reimbursement
- Increasing job opportunities
Which of the following characteristics is NOT a component of a Within-Subject Design?
Group of answer choices:
- Often called repeated measures design
- Involve taking repeated measurements from each subject
- Subjects are only used once
- Common in Psychological research
If the hypothesis of a study is “US will have an effect on pain level,” what would be the null hypothesis?
Group of answer choices:
- US will have no effect on pain level
- US will improve pain level
- US will have a negative effect on pain level
- US will increase pain level
Electrical stimulation and ultrasound effects on shoulder pain.
Which of the following components are associated with the dependent variable?
Group of answer choices:
- The patient's report of shoulder pain on a VAS
- The amount of time the electrical stimulation is on
- The placement of the electrical stimulation electrodes
- The amount of time the Ultrasound treatment was given
Which of the following studies is NOT considered to be experimental research?
Group of answer choices:
- A controlled Non-randomized trial
- Qualitative study
- Single Case design
- A controlled Randomized trial
A physical therapy practice owner wants to offer telehealth and knows they must abide by HIPAA. Misuse of protected health information (PHI) could result in a financial penalty up to what amount?
Group of answer choices:
- $20,000
- $60,000
- $10,000
- $50,000
Which of the following elements has the LEAST association with a research article?
Group of answer choices:
- Validity
- Subjects
- Reimbursement
- Reliability
Which of the following statements does NOT accurately describe the alpha level (α)?
Group of answer choices:
- Is set by researcher before data analysis
- The acceptable level is 0.50 or higher
- Is the probability of a type I error of rejecting the Null hypothesis when it is true
- The lower, the better the experiment
Identify the DV in the following sentence: The Effects of US and Laser in the Treatment of Knee Pain.
Group of answer choices:
- US
- Knee pain
- Laser
- Ultrasound therapy effects on shoulder pain
Subjects were assigned to a control group and an experimental group by pulling names from a hat. The design type utilized in this research is:
Historical
Randomized
Case Report
Case Series
A student physical therapist assistant is completing an assignment: writing a research report after reading a research article. What should the PTA include in their research report?
Group of answer choices:
- Their understanding of the research article
- A play-by-play account of the article
- A superficial discussion
- Frequent direct quotes from the research article
Which question is a central point for evaluation of the introduction section of a research article?
Group of answer choices:
- Does the researcher provide the limitations of the study?
- Are the results statistically significant?
- Was a control group used?
- Is the type of study design clear?
Which of the following exercises has the LEAST association with AAROM?
Group of answer choices:
- Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) device
- Finger-ladder device or a wand
- Manual assistance from PT/PTA
- Overhead pulleys or the patient's own arm
A SPTA on a full-time clinical experience turns to literature based on a specific patient they are treating. They engage with a type of research that measures a specific practice quality, implements practice changes, and monitors outcomes to determine the effect. What type of research is this?
Group of answer choices:
- Quality assurance
- Validity
- Reliability
- Quality Improvement
Which part of a research article must contain specific information about the purpose, method, results, and major conclusions of the presented work?
Group of answer choices:
- Discussion
- Title
- Introduction
- Abstract
Which database is an EBSCO Host product that provides evidence-based clinical references?
Group of answer choices:
- Cochrane Library
- Gale Virtual Reference Library
- Rehabilitation Reference Center
- ProQuest
Paper For Above instruction
Systematically designed recommendations based upon review of clinical research are essential tools in evidence-based healthcare. These recommendations serve as a cornerstone for clinicians aiming to optimize patient outcomes by integrating current, high-quality evidence into practice. The primary classification of such recommendations falls under clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). CPGs are systematically developed statements that assist practitioners and patients in making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. They synthesize evidence from various research methods, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and expert consensus, to provide comprehensive guidance grounded in scientific evidence. Therefore, the correct answer to the question about the nature of systematically designed recommendations based on clinical research is “Clinical practice guideline.”
Within outpatient physiotherapy, services are typically delivered through a multidisciplinary model. This approach involves healthcare professionals from different disciplines working collaboratively, although they may function independently within their specific scopes, to provide comprehensive patient care. The interprofessional model emphasizes shared responsibility and communication among team members, but the classic model used in outpatient clinics tends to be multidisciplinary, where members maintain their specialized roles. Transdisciplinary models involve overlapping roles, and intradisciplinary refers to within-discipline collaborations, which are less typical in outpatient settings. Consequently, the most accurate answer is “multidisciplinary model.”
The most crucial reason for research in physical therapy is improving patient care. Evidence-based practice is centered on delivering interventions that are proven effective, safe, and tailored to individual patient needs. While continuing education, reimbursement, and job opportunities are important, they are secondary benefits or enablers rather than the primary goal. As such, the key motive for research is to refine treatment modalities and enhance clinical outcomes, making “Improving patient care” the most significant reason.
A Within-Subject Design involves repeated measurements on the same subjects under different conditions, making it particularly advantageous in psychological and clinical research for controlling individual variability. This design often involves participants serving as their own controls, taking multiple measurements across different time points or conditions. However, a characteristic that is NOT part of this design is “Subjects are only used once,” which contradicts the fundamental aspect of repeated measures. In fact, subjects are used multiple times under different conditions in within-subjects studies, which is why this characteristic is not true. This distinction highlights the core concept of within-subject designs as repeated measures from the same individuals.
The null hypothesis in studies investigating the effect of ultrasound (US) on pain level posits that US has no effect. Therefore, the appropriate null hypothesis would be “US will have no effect on pain level,” reflecting no anticipated change or relationship. The alternative hypothesis might suggest US improves or worsens pain, but the null assumes no effect to provide a basis for statistical testing. Thus, the correct null hypothesis choice is “US will have no effect on pain level.”
When examining the effects of electrical stimulation and ultrasound on shoulder pain, the dependent variable encapsulates what is measured as the outcome of interest, which, in this context, is the patient's subjective pain report, often on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The patient's reported pain level depends on the intervention's efficacy, making it the dependent variable because it is influenced by the independent variables (treatment type, duration, etc.). Other options, like electrode placement or treatment duration, are independent variables or measures of process, not the outcome itself.
Experimental research involves scientific investigations where researchers manipulate one or more independent variables to determine their effect on dependent variables, often within controlled settings. A qualitative study, on the other hand, explores phenomena through non-numerical data like interviews or observations, providing rich, descriptive insights but not experimental manipulation. Similarly, case reports and case series are observational, descriptive accounts that lack control groups or experimental interventions. Hence, “Qualitative study” is not considered experimental research, as it does not involve systematic manipulation or control of variables.
Regarding HIPAA compliance, misuse or breach of protected health information (PHI) can result in significant financial penalties. According to HIPAA guidelines, violations can lead to penalties up to $50,000 per violation, with a maximum annual penalty of $1.5 million for violations of the same provision (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). The highest individual penalty for a violation in a non-criminal scenario is generally up to $50,000, but criminal penalties can be substantially higher, reaching into the hundreds of thousands or millions if fraudulent intent is involved.
In scholarly research articles, certain elements are key to understanding the study's foundation and findings. Among these, the abstract succinctly summarizes the purpose, methods, results, and major conclusions, providing a comprehensive snapshot for readers. While the introduction presents background and rationale, it does not detail specific results or conclusions. Therefore, the abstract is the part that encapsulates all major aspects of the research succinctly.
Validity, subjects, and reliability are foundational to research articles, ensuring the integrity and reproducibility of findings. Reimbursement, however, is related to funding and billing processes and is generally not a core component of the scientific content of research articles. It pertains more to administrative or financial considerations rather than the scientific rigor or methodological quality.
The alpha level (α) is a pre-defined threshold for statistical significance, set before data collection, indicating the probability of making a Type I error—rejecting a true null hypothesis. An acceptable alpha level is conventionally 0.05, representing a 5% risk of false positive results. The statement “The acceptable level is 0.50 or higher” is incorrect because such a high alpha would drastically increase the chance of Type I errors, undermining study validity. The lower the alpha, the more stringent the criteria for significance, reducing false positives.
The dependent variable (DV) is the outcome measure that the researcher observes and records, which is affected by the independent variables. In the case of the study on US and laser treatments for knee pain, the outcome of interest is “Knee pain,” as this is what is being measured to evaluate treatment efficacy.
In an experimental design where subjects are assigned to groups randomly, the design type is “Randomized.” Such random assignment helps control for confounding variables and bias, providing more reliable evidence for causal inference. Assigning participants by random methods like drawing from a hat typifies a randomized controlled trial (RCT) approach.
When a physical therapist assistant (PTA) writes a research report after reading an article, the essential component is their understanding of the research. This reflects comprehension, critical analysis, and synthesis of the article’s methodology, findings, and implications. A detailed or superficial account or frequent quotes are less relevant; the focus should be on integrating knowledge meaningfully.
Evaluating the introduction section involves assessing whether the author articulates the study's background, rationale, and specific aims, including the clarity of the research question and design. A key question is “Is the type of study design clear?” because it underpins understanding the methodology and validity of the study results.
Active Range of Motion (AROM) exercises are voluntary movements performed by the patient. The exercise with the least association with AAROM is “Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) device” because CPM involves passive movement without patient activation. The other options—finger ladder, manual assistance, or overhead pulleys—require some degree of patient participation or physical assistive support.
A full-time student physical therapist assistant engaging with a specific patient’s literature to measure practice quality, implement changes, and monitor outcomes is conducting a “Quality Improvement” project. This type of research aims to enhance clinical practices through systematic evaluation and continuous improvement processes, distinct from general validity or reliability assessments, which are broader research attributes.
The section of a research article detailing the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions is the “Abstract.” It serves as a concise summary that helps readers quickly ascertain the relevance and quality of the study.
The database that is an EBSCO Host product providing evidence-based clinical references is the “Rehabilitation Reference Center.” It offers access to peer-reviewed clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, and best practices specific to rehabilitation sciences.
References
- Guyatt, G., Oxman, A. D., Schünemann, H. J., et al. (2011). GRADE guidelines: 1. Introduction—GRADE evidence profiles and summary of findings tables. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 64(4), 383–394.
- Higgins, J. P., Thomas, J., Chandler, J., et al. (2019). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. 2nd Edition. Wiley.
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2023). HIPAA Administrative Simplification Regulation Text—Security Rule. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/laws-regulations/index.html
- Shamseer, L., Moher, D., Clarke, M., et al. (2015). PRISMA-P Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: elaboration and explanation. BMJ, 349, g7647.
- Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2020). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. 11th ed. Wolters Kluwer.
- Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2009). The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: explanation and elaboration. BMJ, 339, b2700.
- American Physical Therapy Association. (2020). Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. PTJ, 100(7), 834–854.
- ProQuest® Dissertations & Theses Global. (2023). ProQuest.
- Hurlburt, M. S. (2022). Evidence-Based Practice in Physical Therapy. Elsevier.
- Gautam, K., & Karki, K. (2017). Effectiveness of Ultrasound Therapy in Pain Management. Journal of Medical Sciences, 5(3), 56–62.