Evidence-based practice

Therapy questions are inquiries focused on determining the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions used to treat or manage a condition or disease. These questions are crucial for selecting treatments that provide more benefits than harms and are worth the efforts and costs of using them. Therapy questions often involve comparing an intervention to another therapy, a placebo, or no intervention at all.

Therapy or intervention questions explore the potential impact of different treatments, including medications, surgical procedures, exercises, alternative therapies, or lifestyle changes. They aim to assess the effectiveness of these treatments or preventative measures in improving patient outcomes.

Best study type to address therapy questions - RCT
 

Diagnosis questions are inquiries focused on determining the accuracy, reliability, and safety of diagnostic tests and procedures. These questions are essential for selecting and interpreting diagnostic tests that will provide an accurate diagnosis. Diagnosis questions often involve comparing a test to a "gold standard" method to ensure that the chosen test is the most effective in confirming or excluding a particular condition.

Diagnosis questions are typically structured to assess:

• The ability of a diagnostic test to correctly identify those with the disease (sensitivity).
• The ability of a diagnostic test to correctly identify those without the disease (specificity).
• The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the test.
• The likelihood ratios for positive and negative test results.

Best study type to address diagnostic test questions - Blind comparison to gold standard

Etiology questions investigate whether harm is caused by an exposure and aim to identify the causes or risk factors of a disease or condition. These exposures can potentially include therapies, making it crucial to understand both natural and iatrogenic (treatment-induced) causes of health issues. Etiology questions explore the causes and likelihood of a healthcare problem, helping to determine the origins of a patient's condition so that informed decisions about their care can be made.

Etiology questions typically address:

• The factors that increase the risk of developing a disease or condition.
• The relationship between exposure to certain risk factors and the occurrence of a disease.
• The potential mechanisms by which these factors influence the development of the condition.
• The likelihood of a therapeutic intervention causing harm

Best study type to address Etiology questions - RCT, cohort study, case-control study, case series

Prognosis questions focus on predicting the likely future course of a disease or condition. These questions help estimate the patient’s clinical course over time, based on factors other than the intervention, such as age, gender, or disease severity, and anticipate likely complications of the disease. Prognosis questions explore the likelihood of particular outcomes for patients with specific disorders, aiding in predicting the patient's expected development and potential future complications.

Prognosis questions typically address:

• The expected progression of a disease or condition.
• The likelihood of developing specific complications or adverse outcomes.
• The factors influencing the prognosis, including patient characteristics and disease severity.

Best study type to address prognosis questions - Cohort study, case-control study, case series

Prevention questions focus on identifying methods to reduce the risk of developing a disease or condition. These questions help healthcare professionals determine the effectiveness of various preventive measures, such as lifestyle changes, medications, vaccines, screenings, and other interventions designed to prevent illness or adverse health outcomes. Prevention questions explore ways to reduce the likelihood of a particular condition or disease by identifying and modifying risk factors.

Prevention questions typically address:

• The effectiveness of a preventive measure in reducing the incidence of a disease or condition.
• The potential benefits and harms of preventive interventions.
• The populations that will most benefit from preventive measures.

Best study type to address prevention questions - RCT, cohort study, case-control