Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Comprehensive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

Which of the following is **essential** to a systematic review?

Accepted Answer

Comprehensive search strategy

Answer

Narrative and subjective synthesis

Answer

Focus on a general research area

Answer

Limited to quantitative studies

Question 2

What is the **primary** purpose of a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

To combine results from multiple studies to provide a more precise estimate

Answer

To critique and evaluate individual studies

Answer

To develop new theories

Answer

To summarize the literature on a specific topic without combining results

Question 3

What is the **purpose** of the PRISMA statement?

Accepted Answer

To provide guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Answer

To assess the quality of meta-analyses

Answer

To provide a statistical method for combining effect sizes

Answer

To create a database of systematic reviews

Question 4

What is the **main advantage** of using a weighted meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

It gives more weight to larger and higher-quality studies

Answer

It eliminates the need for moderator analyses

Answer

It improves the precision of the overall estimate by a fixed amount

Answer

It reduces the risk of publication bias entirely

Question 5

What is the **main purpose** of a moderator analysis in a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

To explore sources of heterogeneity between studies

Answer

To test the robustness of the overall effect size

Answer

To identify potential outliers without investigation

Answer

To determine the impact of publication bias with certainty

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

To combine and analyse results from multiple studies

Answer

To identify patterns in research findings

Answer

To evaluate the quality of research studies

Answer

To make recommendations for practice

Question 7

What is the distinction between heterogeneity and homogeneity in meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

Heterogeneity refers to differences in study characteristics or results, while homogeneity refers to similarities.

Answer

Heterogeneity refers to similarities in study characteristics or results, while homogeneity refers to differences.

Answer

Heterogeneity and homogeneity are synonymous terms.

Answer

Heterogeneity and homogeneity are not relevant concepts in meta-analysis.

Question 8

What is the role of PRISMA guidelines in systematic reviews?

Accepted Answer

To provide a reporting framework for systematic reviews

Answer

To assess the quality of research studies included

Answer

To conduct the meta-analysis

Answer

To define the research question

Question 9

Which characteristic is NOT applicable to systematic reviews?

Accepted Answer

Inclusion of only randomized controlled trials

Answer

Systematic and transparent methodology

Answer

Comprehensive literature search

Answer

Critical evaluation of studies

Question 10

What is the primary objective of conducting a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

To synthesize results from multiple studies

Answer

To identify the strongest study on a specific topic

Answer

To evaluate the quality of individual studies

Answer

To conduct a new research study

Question 11

What is the primary purpose of a funnel plot in meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

To assess potential publication bias

Answer

To determine the quality of individual studies

Answer

To identify outliers

Answer

To calculate the overall effect size

Question 12

When conducting a systematic review, the search strategy should be:

Accepted Answer

Sensitive and comprehensive

Answer

Narrow and specific

Answer

Based on preconceived assumptions

Answer

Random and arbitrary

Question 13

What distinguishes a qualitative systematic review from a quantitative one?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative reviews analyze numerical data, while qualitative reviews analyze non-numerical data

Answer

Qualitative reviews analyze numerical data, while quantitative reviews analyze non-numerical data

Answer

There is no distinction between qualitative and quantitative systematic reviews

Answer

Qualitative reviews are more rigorous than quantitative reviews

Question 14

What is the purpose of critical appraisal in a systematic review?

Accepted Answer

To assess the quality and validity of individual studies

Answer

To determine the overall effect size

Answer

To conduct a meta-analysis

Answer

To develop a research question

Question 15

What is the primary purpose of a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

To analyze the results of multiple studies and draw conclusions about the overall effect of an intervention or exposure

Answer

To identify and select relevant studies for a systematic review

Answer

To develop a research question for a systematic review

Answer

To write the introduction section of a research paper

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a recommended step in the PRISMA guidelines for conducting systematic reviews?

Accepted Answer

Translating and interpreting studies included in non-English languages

Answer

Defining the research question and objectives

Answer

Identifying relevant studies through comprehensive searches of databases

Answer

Assessing the eligibility and quality of identified studies

Question 17

What is the primary role of heterogeneity in meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

It measures the variability in effect sizes across studies, indicating the consistency of results

Answer

It provides an indication of the presence of bias or methodological differences in the included studies

Answer

It determines the statistical significance of the meta-analysis

Answer

It is not relevant to the interpretation of meta-analysis results

Question 18

What is the primary purpose of using a quality assessment tool in systematic reviews?

Accepted Answer

To evaluate the methodological quality of included studies and assess their risk of bias

Answer

To synthesize the results of included studies

Answer

To identify relevant studies for inclusion

Answer

To develop a research question for a systematic review

Question 19

What is the primary difference between a narrative synthesis and a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

Narrative synthesis provides a qualitative overview of studies, while meta-analysis provides a quantitative synthesis of the results

Answer

Meta-analysis is less prone to bias than narrative synthesis

Answer

Narrative synthesis is less time-consuming than meta-analysis

Answer

Narrative synthesis is considered a more valid research method than meta-analysis

Question 20

What is the primary goal of a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

To synthesize the findings of multiple studies to provide a more robust estimate of an effect

Answer

To identify potential biases in individual studies

Answer

To develop new research questions

Answer

To confirm the results of a single study

Question 21

What is the role of a PRISMA statement in systematic reviews?

Accepted Answer

To provide a standardized format for reporting systematic reviews and enhance transparency

Answer

To develop a research protocol

Answer

To identify potential conflicts of interest

Answer

To analyze study data

Question 22

Which statistical measure is commonly used to quantify heterogeneity in meta-analyses?

Accepted Answer

I-squared statistic

Answer

Cochran's Q

Answer

Begg's funnel plot

Answer

Egger's regression test

Question 23

What is the key difference between a fixed-effects model and a random-effects model in meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

Fixed-effects assumes homogeneity, while random-effects considers heterogeneity between studies

Answer

Random-effects assumes homogeneity, while fixed-effects considers heterogeneity between studies

Answer

Both models assume homogeneity

Answer

Both models assume heterogeneity

Question 24

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a well-conducted systematic review?

Accepted Answer

Reliance solely on narrative synthesis

Answer

Transparent reporting

Answer

Comprehensive literature search

Answer

Objective data synthesis

Question 25

What is the main benefit of registering a systematic review protocol?

Accepted Answer

To ensure methodological transparency and reduce bias

Answer

To prevent duplicate reviews

Answer

To obtain ethical approval

Answer

To guarantee publication in a high-impact journal