Question

Dr. Intellectual conducted a study to measure if a telephone intervention by nurses (nurses calling patients after discharge) reduces readmissions within 30 days of discharge. All discharged patients were called within 48 hours of discharge, between June 1 and August 1, to discuss compliance with discharge instructions.

5. Identify the independent variable

            a. telephone calls

            b. readmissions

            c. 48 hours post discharge

            d. compliance with discharge instructions

6. What level of measurement is the independent variable?

            a. nominal

            b. ordinal

            c. interval

            d. ratio

7. Identify the dependent variable.

            a. telephone calls

            b. readmissions

            c. 48 hours post discharge

            d. compliance with discharge instructions

8. What level of measurement is the dependent variable?

            a. nominal

            b. ordinal

            c. interval

            d. ratio

Please provide the correct answers and explanation along it as why that is correct and others are wrong

Answer 1

The study is to determine if a telephone intervention by nurses (nurses calling patients after discharge) reduces readmissions within 30 days of discharge. We are manipulating telephone calls to determine effect on readmissions. So, telephone calls is independent variable and readmissions is a dependent variable.

5. Identify the independent variable

            a. telephone calls

  

Nominal - Categorical variable with no specific order defined

Ordinal - Categorical variable with specific order defined

Interval - Differences between two variables is meaningful

Ratio - Absolute zero is defined for the variable

6. What level of measurement is the independent variable?

            a. nominal

         

Nominal - Categorical variable with no specific order defined

Ordinal - The call value is 'yes' or 'no. We cannot define any order for 'yes' or 'no.

Interval - Differences between 'yes' or 'no' is not meaningful

Ratio - Absolute zero is not defined for the variable

7. Identify the dependent variable.

            b. readmissions

8. What level of measurement is the dependent variable?

            d. ratio

Nominal - Not a Categorical variable

Ordinal - We can define order (based on numerical value) for number of readmissions

Interval - Differences between number of readmissions is meaningful

Ratio - Absolute zero is defined for the variable. So, we will take the highest level of measurement which is ratio.