PEBC (Knowledge and Research Application) Sample Questions
Categories: PEBC Canada
Ques. Which of the following would be the most useful reference to learn what combination of antiretroviral agents is currently recommended as a first-line therapy to treat HIV infection?
a. Meta-analyses
b. A randomized, controlled trial
c. Clinical practice guidelines
d. Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS Drug Information)
Answer: (c)
Ques. Type Il statistical error in a study comparing two drug treatment regimens occurs when:
a. the control drug is not a "gold standard" treatment.
b. a statistically significant difference exists but the difference is not clinically important.
c. the population under investigation does not represent the population with the disease.
d. the data shows no difference between two treatment regimens and a difference actually does exist.
Answer: (d)
Ques. An adequately powered, randomized controlled trial conducted over two years demonstrated that the primary outcome (a serious cardiovascular event) occurred in 15% of the patients who received the new drug, whereas the primary outcome occurred in 25% of the patients who received a placebo. The relative risk reduction achieved with the new drug is:
a. 10%
b. 15%.
c. 25%.
d. 40%.
Answer: (d)
Ques. In an adequately powered, randomized controlled trial conducted over three years, a specific serious side effect (i.e., reduction in leukocytes) with conventional therapy is seen in 0.5% of the study sample. In patients who receive a newly discovered drug, only 0.45% experience the same side effect. Based on these results, the minimum number of patients that would need to receive the new drug for three years to statistically demonstrate the prevention of one episode of this side effect in at least one patient (i.e., NNT) is:
a. 20.
b. 150.
c. 200.
d. 2000.
Answer: (d)
Ques. A pharmacist has received information regarding a new drug to treat hypertension. The information is based on a two-month, placebo controlled, randomized study of 1000 adults that showed a significant average decrease in systolic pressure from 160 mm Hg to 141 mm Hg and diastolic pressure from 98 mm Hg to 86 mm Hg. The most common adverse reactions were stomach upset and dizziness. Which of the following is the most significant limitation of this study?
a. The study size was too small to assess benefits adequately.
b. The patients did not achieve guideline targets for hypertension.
c. Lowered blood pressure is a surrogate outcome.
d. Long-term safety and efficacy were not assessed.
Answer: (d)
Ques. A drug is being evaluated for the risk of hyperkalemia. A large retrospective, case control study has provided the following information:
|
| Cases (n=5250) | Controls (n=5000) |
| Number with hyperkalemia | 22 | 7 |
What is the odds ratio for hyperkalemia with this drug?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
Answer: (c)
Ques. A physician from the Emergency Department contacts the hospital pharmacist about a patient visiting from the United States who has taken an apparent overdose of an unidentified tablet. The physician has one of the tablets and is able to provide a description, as well as information about the markings on the tablet. The most appropriate reference for the pharmacist to consult in order to identify the tablet is:
a. Medline.
b. RxFiles.
c. Micromedex.
d. Drug Product Database.
Answer: (c)
Ques. A non-inferiority trial is designed to test whether Drug X is non-inferior to Drug Y for clinical cure of infection. The non-inferiority margin for the odds ratio is set to 10% with a one-sided alpha level of 0.025. Therefore, the null hypothesis is that the cure rate for Drug X is inferior to Drug Y by more than 10%. Which of the following statements is correct?
a. If the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval is greater than 0, then Drug X is non-inferior to Drug Y.
b. If the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval is less than -10%, then Drug X is non-inferior to Drug Y.
c. If the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval is greater than 1, then Drug X is superior to Drug Y.
d. If the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval is greater than -10%, then Drug X is superior to Drug Y.
Answer: (c)
Ques. Which of the following correctly ranks the hierarchy of strength of evidence for treatment decisions in an individual patient from lowest to highest?
a. Single observational study, single randomized trial, N-of-1 randomized trial, physiologic studies
b. Single randomized trial, N-of-1 randomized trial, physiologic studies, single observational study
c. N-of-1 randomized trial, physiologic studies, single observational study, single randomized trial
d. Physiologic studies, single observational study, single randomized trial, N-of-1 randomized trial
Answer: (d)