Week 6 EBP Critical Appraisal in Health Research

Flashcards on critical appraisal of research, validity, bias, and study design.

Critical Appraisal

The determination of the quality of evidence to make informed decisions for patients or clients.

Peer Review

Review of an article by qualified researchers before publication in an academic journal.

Rigor

Relates to research conducted using a qualitative methodology

Applicability of Research

The extent to which research findings can be generalized to other settings.

Non-inferiority Trials

Trials designed to show that a treatment is equal to another treatment.

N-of-1 Trial

A single case study involving one participant, with random allocation of interventions.

Validity

The integrity of the findings resulting from a study.

Internal Validity

Confidence in drawing a causal relationship between variables.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc (Post Hoc)

The logical fallacy that because Y followed X, Y was caused by X.

External Validity

The degree to which study findings can be generalized beyond the study participants.

Ecological Validity

Whether the findings of a research study reflect real-life settings.

Efficacy Studies

Studies that focus on demonstrating internal validity through a highly controlled methodology.

Effectiveness Studies

Studies that follow efficacy studies and are carried out in less controlled, real-life situations.

Volunteer or Referral Bias

Bias due to participants being more motivated than the general population.

Attention Bias

Bias due to participants performing differently because they are aware of the study's intention.

Contamination (Bias)

Control group inadvertently receives treatment.

Co-intervention (Bias)

Participant receives another intervention at the same time.

Timing of Intervention (Bias)

Treatment is too short or long, influencing results.

Site of Intervention (Bias)

The location of the intervention affects the result.

Different Administrators of the Intervention

Different therapists administer the treatment, leading to variability in results.

Random Error

Errors in measurement that are unpredictable and uncontrollable.

Systematic Error

Errors in measurement that are predictable and can be eliminated.

Sample or Selection Bias 

• Volunteer or referral bias 

• Attention bias

Measurement or Detection Bias 

• Number of outcome measures used 

• Lack of ‘masked’ or ‘independent’ evaluation 

• Recall or memory bias

Intervention or Performance Bias 

• Contamination 

• Co-intervention 

• Timing of intervention 

• Site of intervention 

• Different administrators of the intervention 

Other Limitations in Quantitative Research 

• Sample characteristics 

• Dropouts 

• Method and frequency of measurement