When considering treatment options, list the four strongest types of evidence in descending order of strength (i.e. strongest to weakest evidence) from the following list:
Case report
Cohort study
Expert opinion
Instinct
Internet
Randomised controlled trial
Systematic review
Textbook
Incorrect. The standard hierarchy of evidence for answering questions of treatment is: meta-analysis > systematic review > randomised controlled trial > cohort study > case-control study > cross-sectional study > case series > case report > textbook/anecdotal/expert opinion
Incorrect. The standard hierarchy of evidence for answering questions of treatment is: meta-analysis > systematic review > randomised controlled trial > cohort study > case-control study > cross-sectional study > case series > case report > textbook/anecdotal/expert opinion
Correct. The standard hierarchy of evidence for answering questions of treatment is: meta-analysis > systematic review > randomised controlled trial > cohort study > case-control study > cross-sectional study > case series > case report > textbook/anecdotal/expert opinion
Incorrect. The standard hierarchy of evidence for answering questions of treatment is: meta-analysis > systematic review > randomised controlled trial > cohort study > case-control study > cross-sectional study > case series > case report > textbook/anecdotal/expert opinion
Incorrect. The standard hierarchy of evidence for answering questions of treatment is: meta-analysis > systematic review > randomised controlled trial > cohort study > case-control study > cross-sectional study > case series > case report > textbook/anecdotal/expert opinion
Correct
Incorrect
In a randomised controlled trial, what is the purpose of random allocation?
Correct. Random allocation reduces the risk of selection bias and distributes participants equally across comparison groups.
Incorrect. Random allocation reduces the risk of selection bias and distributes participants equally across comparison groups.
Incorrect. Random allocation reduces the risk of selection bias and distributes participants equally across comparison groups.
Incorrect. Random allocation reduces the risk of selection bias and distributes participants equally across comparison groups.
Incorrect. Random allocation reduces the risk of selection bias and distributes participants equally across comparison groups.
Correct
Incorrect
You are appraising a study comparing the effects of two different diets for chronic kidney disease in cats. The researchers were not blinded to the diet being fed. What potential weakness does this introduce to the study design?
Correct. Blinding of the researcher who is measuring the outcomes is designed to limit any conscious or unconscious bias that may arise from knowing which patient received which treatment. Non-blinding is a study weakness that you should be able to identify when appraising the literature.
Incorrect. Lack of study power means that there were not enough study participants in the comparison groups in order to show the statistical significance hypothesised. Blinding of the researcher who is measuring the outcomes is designed to limit any conscious or unconscious bias that may arise from knowing which patient received which treatment. Non-blinding is a study weakness that you should be able to identify when appraising the literature.
Incorrect. Non-random allocation means that when patients were allocated to treatment groups, this was not done randomly, which may increase bias. Blinding of the researcher who is measuring the outcomes is designed to limit any conscious or unconscious bias that may arise from knowing which patient received which treatment. Non-blinding is a study weakness that you should be able to identify when appraising the literature.
Incorrect. Uncontrolled variables means that there are factors other than those you are measuring which may influence the outcomes that you measure. Blinding of the researcher who is measuring the outcomes is designed to limit any conscious or unconscious bias that may arise from knowing which patient received which treatment. Non-blinding is a study weakness that you should be able to identify when appraising the literature.
Incorrect. Poorly matched control groups is an example of selection bias and leads to uncontrolled variables. Blinding of the researcher who is measuring the outcomes is designed to limit any conscious or unconscious bias that may arise from knowing which patient received which treatment. Non-blinding is a study weakness that you should be able to identify when appraising the literature.
Correct
Incorrect
Why are systematic reviews and meta-analyses considered to provide the best evidence?
Incorrect. Many randomised controlled trials or cohort studies can have very complicated statistical analyses! Systematic reviews and meta-analyses objectively summarise all available evidence to answer a specific question using rigorous selection criteria for inclusion of studies.
Incorrect, systematic reviews and meta-analyses objectively summarise all available evidence to answer a specific question using rigorous selection criteria for inclusion of studies.
Incorrect. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses can be written by someone with no former knowledge of the particular subject, they need only be an expert in writing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses objectively summarise all available evidence to answer a specific question using rigorous selection criteria for inclusion of studies.
Correct. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are both objective and systematic, and they contain all of the relevant evidence available, ranked according to strength of evidence.
Incorrect. Some systematic reviews may only contain randomised controlled trials, others may contain a large variation in study type. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses objectively summarise all available evidence to answer a specific question using rigorous selection criteria for inclusion of studies.
Correct
Incorrect
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