Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing Related

Review Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing related questions and content

A nurse is reading an abstract about a study related to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The purpose is stated as follows: "To examine the generalizability of two randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials in patients with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to determine whether steroid therapy resulted in the positive outcomes." The nurse knows generalizability refers to the:

  • A. conclusion that findings can be generalized from the sample to the entire population.
  • B. fact that the group of steroids used are from the same organic compounds.
  • C. possibility that the subjects were carefully selected and that outside influence is thus suspected.
  • D. fact that the type of bacteria carried by ticks is universal.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Generalizability refers to the conclusion that findings from a sample can be applied to the entire population. In this case, the purpose of the study is to determine if the positive outcomes of steroid therapy in two randomized placebo-controlled trials for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be generalized to a broader population of patients with the same condition. Choice B is incorrect because generalizability is not about the type of steroids used but about the applicability of study findings. Choice C is incorrect as it refers to selection bias, not generalizability. Choice D is incorrect as generalizability is about the application of findings, not the universality of bacteria types.