Evidence Based Medicine Flashcards

1
Q

What are the levels of evidence in the evidence pyramid?

A
Editorials, expert opinion
Case series, case reports
Case-control studies
Cohort studies
Randomised controlled trials
Systematic reviews
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2
Q

What is a systematic review?

A

A review of evidence that uses a systematic review to identify, select and critically appraise relevant primary research

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3
Q

What can trials assess?

A

Drugs
Surgery
Types of management
Educational interventions

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4
Q

What does a randomised controlled trial mean?

A
Randomised = the population receiving the intervention and the population being compared are only different due to random variation
Controlled = Intervention is being compared to something else e.g. placebo, gold standard
Trial = An experimental intervention
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5
Q

Why should trials be random?

A

It prevents differences between groups affecting the outcome, it stops the experimenter choosing who gets treatment and so ultimately it removes bias

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6
Q

What are some confounding variables?

A
Illness severity at entry
Current treatment 
Disease duration
Previous medical history
Age
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7
Q

What are some factors that would exclude people from a trial?

A

Clear preference for intervention or control by the patient or the doctor
If the patient is unlikely to adhere to treatment

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8
Q

What are some factors that would include patients from a trial?

A

Likely to benefit from the treatment - definetly has the disease and is likely to respond to treatment
Unlikely to be harmed by the treatment

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9
Q

What are some controls that can be used in a trial?

A

Placebo
Nothing
Current best practice
Standard care

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10
Q

What are some factors that need to be present to measure the outcome?

A

Clinically relevant
Easily measured
Accurately measured
Specified in trial protocols

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11
Q

What are some problems associated with measuring outcomes?

A

Losing patients due to emigration, death or voluntary withdrawal

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12
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

It occurs when the association between an exposure and an outcome is in fact the result of another variable

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