Question 1

A researcher is studying the likely occurrence rate of secondary cancers after a new schedule of chemotherapy for childhood leukemia, using a biochemical marker obtained by blood draw 6 months after the initiation of chemotherapy. What is the rationale for using this biological marker as a proximate outcome, rather than counting the actual rate of secondary cancers?

Accepted Answer

The rationale for using a biological marker as a proximate outcome rather than counting the actual rate of secondary cancers is that the final endpoint (occurrence of secondary cancers) is not obtainable over a reasonable span of time, as these cancers can develop at any point from childhood through late adulthood.

Question 2

Which of the following are processes of care within a hospital that are likely to be scrutinized in research focusing on nursing-sensitive patient outcomes?

Accepted Answer

B, C, D, E

Question 3

Outcomes research in a hospital could address interactions among which of the following general groups of variables?

Accepted Answer

B, C, D, E

Question 4

Outcomes research differs from traditional quantitative research in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

Outcomes research is distinguished by its theoretical framework, which often follows Donabedian's paradigm focusing on structure, process, and outcomes to assess quality. It emphasizes the importance of outcomes, including the quality of healthcare, as its dependent variables, rather than solely relying on unique designs or having "outcomes" in the titles of its publications.

Question 5

A nurse manager designs a research study to examine nurse workload stress, work shift, number of years in the nursing profession, number of medication errors, patient falls, and after-shift overtime, as they relate to one another. What is the most likely method the manager will use to study this?

Accepted Answer

Multilevel analysis is the most suitable method for this study because it allows for the examination of data that is organized at more than one level (e.g., individual nurses and their work shifts), which is necessary to understand the complex relationships between nurse workload stress, work shift, years in the profession, medication errors, patient falls, and after-shift overtime.

Question 6

Why would outcomes research use an entire database, rather than merely selecting a sample?

Accepted Answer

Using the entire database allows for comprehensive analysis of the entire patient population (A), ensures that small effect sizes and multiple variables can be statistically significant (C), and helps identify patterns that might be missed with a smaller sample (D).

Question 7

In nursing, modern outcomes research is likely to focus upon which of the following topics?

Accepted Answer

Modern outcomes research in nursing often focuses on variables affecting nursing care (A), workplace issues (C), structures of care (D), and measurements of patient illness, wellness, functionality, or safety (F) as these factors directly impact patient outcomes and the quality of care provided.

Question 8

What are the differences between a cost-effectiveness analysis and a cost-benefit analysis?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the differences between a cost-effectiveness...

Question 9

A hospital has recently converted to an "80% BSN staff" policy. In service of this goal, all newly hired nurses are expected to hold at least a bachelor's degree in nursing. Within the area of outcomes research, the variable "educational preparation of nurses" is what kind of a variable?

Accepted Answer

The variable "educational preparation of nurses" is considered a "Structure of care" variable because it relates to the attributes of the settings in which care occurs, including the facilities, staff, and operational and financial processes. This encompasses the qualifications and education levels of healthcare providers, such as nurses, which directly impact the structure through which healthcare services are delivered.

Question 10

What does "a preference for Type I error, as compared with Type II error" in outcomes research mean?

Accepted Answer

A preference for Type I error over Type II error means the researcher would rather risk falsely identifying a connection (false positive) than miss a potential true connection (false negative). This approach prioritizes sensitivity over specificity.

Question 11

From what common sources does outcomes research draw its data?

Accepted Answer

The answer of From what common sources does outcomes research...

Question 12

A complete appraisal of quality of care in an institution is undertaken. It could justifiably be linked with which of the following?

Accepted Answer

These options directly relate to the quality of care in an institution. B) Ensuring the safety of hospital grounds affects patient and visitor satisfaction and safety. D) The number of complaints can indicate areas needing improvement in patient care or services. E) Nurse to patient staffing ratios significantly impact the quality of care and patient outcomes. G) Measures of physiological function after surgery can reflect the effectiveness of surgical and post-operative care.

Question 13

A study examines the careers of hospital nurses who have opted for retirement before the age of 55, identifying their education, work shift, final work area, and the religion in which they were raised. This is an example of which type of study?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a retrospective cohort study because it looks back in time to examine the careers of hospital nurses who have already retired before the age of 55, analyzing various factors such as their education, work shift, final work area, and religion.

Question 14

A researcher performs a study in which data are obtained from 10 years of notes made by physicians and nurse practitioners in a large, shared urban obstetrical practice. The researcher collects the following data: primary person providing health care, person attending the delivery, patient's age, patient's parity, patient zip code, baby's Apgar scores, gestational age at first appointment, gestational age at delivery, and maternal complications. What type of research could this be?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher performs a study in which...

Question 15

How do practice pattern profiling and nursing-sensitive patient outcomes research relate to one another?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do practice pattern profiling and nursing-sensitive...

Question 16

Which description indicates research that is a prospective cohort study?

Accepted Answer

A prospective cohort study follows a group of individuals over time to see how their exposures affect their outcomes. In choice C, tracking citizens for cancer occurrence after a nuclear accident is a forward-looking study that observes outcomes (cancer occurrence) following a specific exposure (nuclear accident), which aligns with the definition of a prospective cohort study.

Question 17

An advertisement maintains that zip code affects length of life. If outcomes research were designed to explore this geographical difference, what variables would be most useful in understanding the outcome of length of life?

Accepted Answer

The answer of An advertisement maintains that zip code affects...

Question 18

Sampling in outcomes studies differs from that in traditional quantitative research in several ways. Which is true regarding sampling in outcomes studies?

Accepted Answer

In outcomes studies, a heterogeneous sample is preferred to ensure that the results are generalizable across different populations, reflecting the diversity of patients who might be affected by the intervention or treatment being studied.

Question 19

In an outcomes study of nurse satisfaction in the workplace, which of the following would be reasonable outcome measures?

Accepted Answer

B) Formal complaints filed by nurses, C) Nurse satisfaction surveys, F) Nurses' average length of employment, G) Sick calls, and H) Reported workload stress are direct indicators of nurse satisfaction in the workplace. These measures reflect aspects of the work environment that directly affect nurses' experiences and satisfaction levels.

Quiz 13: Outcomes Research