WGU D514 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Researchers want to determine if a particular risk factor or risk factors are associated
with the frequency for nonelective readmission within 30 days among patients with
diabetes in a metropolitan area. The variables of interest include age, gender,
race/ethnicity, and insurance status.Which statistical technique should be used?
Mann-Whitney U test
Bayesian approach
Regression analysis
Wilcoxon signed-rank test - ANSWER-Regression analysis
Which type of data analysis could be used in quantitative research?
Reporting the gender of participants
Ranking the severity order with 1 as the worst and 4 as the best
Reporting the distribution of results or outcomes
Using categorical variables with 0=no and 1=yes - ANSWER-Reporting the
distribution of results or outcomes
What is a characteristic of qualitative research methods?
Utilizes large sample sizes
Determines causal relationships
Generalizes results to the population
Introduces subjectivity to data collection - ANSWER-Introduces subjectivity to data
collection
Many physician practices now utilize an electronic health record (EHR) system that
includes a secure messaging feature. Some of these practices have extended their
contact with patients by conducting virtual visits between people with diabetes and
nurses who are certified diabetes educators. The remote technology includes the
ability to monitor blood glucose data to determine if these values are within goal
range. After six months, the results of the blood glucose levels for the group
participating in the virtual visits were evaluated.Which research method was used?
Time-series
Clinical trial
Pretest-posttest
Cross-sectional - ANSWER-Cross-sectional
A hospital researcher is interested in investigating the association between hospital
ownership (i.e., government, investor, and not-for-profit) on overall hospital quality
scores.Research MethodsA cross-sectional data set of all urban hospitals from eight
states is used in this study. The data were obtained from various administrative
databases: Medicare Hospital Cost Report Information System, the American
Hospital Association, and the Area Health Resource File. Descriptive statistics are
used to summarize the data. An ordinary least squares regression is used to test the
relationship between ownership status and hospital quality while controlling for
, hospital and market characteristics.Which component is missing from these research
methods?
Analysis plan
Data collection
Study population
Research design - ANSWER-Research design
Assoc. between pt satisfaction & hospital market share. Researcher hypothesizes
that increased pt satisfaction will lead to increase in hosp. market share. Longitudinal
study of 7 years will be conducted to assess the change in hospital market share
over time. Urban hospitals from the U.S. that have > 100 beds will be included. The
data set will include hosp. characteristics and market characteristics. Admin. data will
be obtained from the Am. Hospital Association's Annual Survey of Hospitals, the
Area Health Resources File, and the Hosp. Compare website. The variables
included in the data set will control for other factors that may impact hospital pt
satisfaction. Stat. significance will be set at α = 0.05 for the analysis. The results of
the analysis will be of interest to hospital administrators and policy makers. Which
component is missing? Analysis plan Data collection Study population Research
design - ANSWER-Analysis plan
After reviewing a quality report from a large urban hospital, an administrator decided
to implement a new initiative to improve communication among healthcare
professionals. The hospital administrator conducted a survey on safety and error
prevention that revealed that ineffective or insufficient communication among team
members is a significant contributing factor to adverse events.Which source of data
would have been used to highlight patient perception of care?
HCAHPS scores
Staff turnover rates
HIPAA violation lists
Prescription data - ANSWER-HCAHPS scores
There have been recent complaints at a pharmacy regarding care, wait times, and
errors. The administrator wants to further examine customer satisfaction rates. After
examining more information the administrator decides to develop a new patient
portal that will allow patients to perform a refill request online. The system will also
allow patients to request refills via text or mobile devices.Which two sources of data
were used in the change from the old system to the new system? 2 answers
Patient wait times
Patient portal usage
Patient satisfaction surveys
Patient demographic profiles - ANSWER-Patient wait times
Patient satisfaction surveys
A hospital is experiencing a high rate of nursing turnover during the first year at the
hospital. There are many theories as to why turnover in this cohort is so high. The
chief executive officer (CEO) has asked the nursing director to study this further and
develop some tactics to improve nursing retention. The director plans to gather data,
conduct some statistical analysis, and report back to the CEO with an improvement
plan. Which type of data would the director gather to develop this plan?
Competitor turnover rates
ANSWERS
Researchers want to determine if a particular risk factor or risk factors are associated
with the frequency for nonelective readmission within 30 days among patients with
diabetes in a metropolitan area. The variables of interest include age, gender,
race/ethnicity, and insurance status.Which statistical technique should be used?
Mann-Whitney U test
Bayesian approach
Regression analysis
Wilcoxon signed-rank test - ANSWER-Regression analysis
Which type of data analysis could be used in quantitative research?
Reporting the gender of participants
Ranking the severity order with 1 as the worst and 4 as the best
Reporting the distribution of results or outcomes
Using categorical variables with 0=no and 1=yes - ANSWER-Reporting the
distribution of results or outcomes
What is a characteristic of qualitative research methods?
Utilizes large sample sizes
Determines causal relationships
Generalizes results to the population
Introduces subjectivity to data collection - ANSWER-Introduces subjectivity to data
collection
Many physician practices now utilize an electronic health record (EHR) system that
includes a secure messaging feature. Some of these practices have extended their
contact with patients by conducting virtual visits between people with diabetes and
nurses who are certified diabetes educators. The remote technology includes the
ability to monitor blood glucose data to determine if these values are within goal
range. After six months, the results of the blood glucose levels for the group
participating in the virtual visits were evaluated.Which research method was used?
Time-series
Clinical trial
Pretest-posttest
Cross-sectional - ANSWER-Cross-sectional
A hospital researcher is interested in investigating the association between hospital
ownership (i.e., government, investor, and not-for-profit) on overall hospital quality
scores.Research MethodsA cross-sectional data set of all urban hospitals from eight
states is used in this study. The data were obtained from various administrative
databases: Medicare Hospital Cost Report Information System, the American
Hospital Association, and the Area Health Resource File. Descriptive statistics are
used to summarize the data. An ordinary least squares regression is used to test the
relationship between ownership status and hospital quality while controlling for
, hospital and market characteristics.Which component is missing from these research
methods?
Analysis plan
Data collection
Study population
Research design - ANSWER-Research design
Assoc. between pt satisfaction & hospital market share. Researcher hypothesizes
that increased pt satisfaction will lead to increase in hosp. market share. Longitudinal
study of 7 years will be conducted to assess the change in hospital market share
over time. Urban hospitals from the U.S. that have > 100 beds will be included. The
data set will include hosp. characteristics and market characteristics. Admin. data will
be obtained from the Am. Hospital Association's Annual Survey of Hospitals, the
Area Health Resources File, and the Hosp. Compare website. The variables
included in the data set will control for other factors that may impact hospital pt
satisfaction. Stat. significance will be set at α = 0.05 for the analysis. The results of
the analysis will be of interest to hospital administrators and policy makers. Which
component is missing? Analysis plan Data collection Study population Research
design - ANSWER-Analysis plan
After reviewing a quality report from a large urban hospital, an administrator decided
to implement a new initiative to improve communication among healthcare
professionals. The hospital administrator conducted a survey on safety and error
prevention that revealed that ineffective or insufficient communication among team
members is a significant contributing factor to adverse events.Which source of data
would have been used to highlight patient perception of care?
HCAHPS scores
Staff turnover rates
HIPAA violation lists
Prescription data - ANSWER-HCAHPS scores
There have been recent complaints at a pharmacy regarding care, wait times, and
errors. The administrator wants to further examine customer satisfaction rates. After
examining more information the administrator decides to develop a new patient
portal that will allow patients to perform a refill request online. The system will also
allow patients to request refills via text or mobile devices.Which two sources of data
were used in the change from the old system to the new system? 2 answers
Patient wait times
Patient portal usage
Patient satisfaction surveys
Patient demographic profiles - ANSWER-Patient wait times
Patient satisfaction surveys
A hospital is experiencing a high rate of nursing turnover during the first year at the
hospital. There are many theories as to why turnover in this cohort is so high. The
chief executive officer (CEO) has asked the nursing director to study this further and
develop some tactics to improve nursing retention. The director plans to gather data,
conduct some statistical analysis, and report back to the CEO with an improvement
plan. Which type of data would the director gather to develop this plan?
Competitor turnover rates
