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Assessing Applicability Interactive Quiz

Assess applicability of research findings with this interactive quiz module prepared for AHRQ. Explore effects of exclusion criteria, composite endpoints, study populations, and evidence strength.

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Assessing Applicability Interactive Quiz

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  1. Assessing Applicability Interactive Quiz Prepared for: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Training Modules for Systematic Reviews Methods Guide www.ahrq.gov

  2. Effects of Run-in Periods andPrerandomization Exclusion Criteria Why might trials with run-in periods and high prerandomization exclusion rates negatively affect applicability? • The adverse events seen in the intervention groups would likely be lower than in the clinical setting. • The benefits seen in the intervention groups would likely be lower than in the clinical setting. • Run-in periods should not negatively affect applicability.

  3. Effects of Composite End Points Why might the use of a composite end point (e.g., death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ventricular fibrillation, stroke, or stable anginal pain) negatively affect applicability? • Stroke is a surrogate end point. • It is often difficult to determine the effect of an intervention on each component of the composite end point. • Composite end points do not affect applicability.

  4. Study Population A study shows that the use of a new medication in male astronauts, 25 to 35 years of age, prevents bone mineral density loss during prolonged stays in outer space when compared with no therapy. Which factors would limit the applicability of this trial to patients with osteoporosis? • Differences in gender and age between the study population and the general population • Use of a surrogate end point • Differences in setting between the study population and the general population • All of the above

  5. Strength of Evidence Why should grading of the strength of evidence and assessment of applicability be carried out separately? • Strength of evidence grading and applicability assessment are essentially the same. • Studies using strong methods can show that an intervention is superior to a control therapy in a study population, but it may or may not work in actual practice. • Strength of evidence grading is primarily associated with assessing the external validity, whereas applicability assessment is concerned with internal validity.

  6. Evidence Table Review the evidence table above. Which columns are completed in step 1 in an applicability assessment? A. Columns 1 through 5 B. Columns 1 through 6 C. Column 1 only ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; NYHA = New York Heart Association; PICOS = population, intervention, comparators, outcomes, and setting

  7. Summary • The process used to assess applicability and to distinguish efficacy trials from effectiveness trials can have many pitfalls. • Using a three-step process to assess applicability can make the process easier. • Transparent reporting of results is an important component of comparative effectiveness reviews.

  8. Author • This quiz was prepared by C. Michael White, Pharm.D., FCP, FCCP, a member of the University of Connecticut/Hartford Hospital Evidence-based Practice Center. • This module is based on chapter 6 in version 1.0 of the Methods Reference Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews (available at: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/repFiles/2007_10Draft MethodsGuide.pdf).

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