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Table 3 Knowledge questions with correct answers in bold

From: International web survey of chiropractic students about evidence-based practice: a pilot study

Questions

Answers

Respons

Which section of an article is the best section to evaluate when critical analysis of information is needed? (n = 479)

1. Abstract

17.1

 

2. Introduction section

3.1

 

3. Methods section

48.0

 

4. Conclusions section

28.8

 

5. References

2.9

Because three cases of a very rare brain cancer have been detected in children living in a small community located near a hazardous waste disposal site, local clinicians want to determine if they can identify risk factors associated with cancer development. They should conduct a _______ to address this question. (n = 474)

1. Case series

25.7

 

2. Randomized clinical trial

7.4

 

3. Prospective cohort study

22.6

 

4. Cross-sectional study

16.9

 

5. Case-control study

27.4

A randomized clinical trial is designed to compare two different treatment approaches for a disease/condition of interest. The purpose of randomization is to: (n = 470)

1. Obtain treatment groups of similar size

2.3

 

2. Select a representative sample of patients for study

53.8

 

3. Increase patient compliance with treatment

4.0

 

4. Obtain treatment groups with coparable baseline prognoses

37.4

 

5. Increase the prevalence of disease in both groups

2.3

A controversy occurred between the proponents of drug therapy and spinal manipulation for patients with asthma. To support their position, one party wrote, "Of 119 patients with asthma, 97 showed improvement following spinal manipulation." The inference that in patients with asthma, spinal manipulation is the therapy of choice is: (n = 470)

1. Correct

13.6

 

2. Incorrect because the comparison is not based on rates

3.4

 

3. Incorrect because no control or comparison group is being used

60.9

 

4. Incorrect because no test of statistical significance is being made

16.6

 

5. Incorrect because a cohort effect may be operating

5.5

The following spinal manipulation research was performed: 1,000 randomly selected children two years of age were given full spine manipulation once per month for 12 consecutive months, and then followed for 10 years. Of these, 80% were never afflicted with spine pain or spine related disease. Which is the most correct conclusion regarding the efficacy of spinal manipulation? (n = 466)

1. Spinal manipulation is an excellent preventive therapy because of the high rate of healthy children.

16.5

 

2. No conclusion is possible because no follow-up was made of children who did not receive spinal manipulation.

66.7

 

3. Spinal manipulation is not very effective because it should have produced a higher rate of healthy children.

1.7

 

4. No conclusion is possible because no test of statistical significance was performed.

11.8

 

5. The significant figure is 100% - 80% = 20%, the rate of acquiring spine pain or illness.

3.2

  1. Numbers listed are percentages.