1. Clinical decision making in physiotherapy primarily involves:
(A) Guessing patient needs
(B) Applying evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values
(C) Following only physician’s advice
(D) Avoiding patient participation
2. Which model is widely used in clinical decision making?
(A) Hypothetico-deductive model
(B) Trial-and-error model only
(C) Random choice model
(D) Passive care model
3. The first step in clinical decision making is:
(A) Documentation
(B) Patient assessment
(C) Intervention planning
(D) Discharge planning
4. Which of the following is an important component of evidence-based practice?
(A) Clinical expertise
(B) Best research evidence
(C) Patient preferences
(D) All of the above
5. A physiotherapist choosing between treatment options based on available literature is applying:
(A) Evidence-based decision making
(B) Random selection
(C) Intuition only
(D) Superstition
6. Which tool helps physiotherapists evaluate the reliability of clinical tests?
(A) Sensitivity and specificity
(B) Blood pressure chart
(C) X-ray film
(D) ECG
7. Clinical reasoning that uses prior experiences is called:
(A) Intuitive reasoning
(B) Scientific reasoning
(C) Ethical reasoning
(D) Legal reasoning
8. The process of ruling in or out a diagnosis based on patient findings is called:
(A) Differential diagnosis
(B) Random diagnosis
(C) Definitive labeling
(D) Hypothesis rejection only
9. Which of the following enhances decision making in physiotherapy?
(A) Critical thinking
(B) Reflection
(C) Patient communication
(D) All of the above
10. What does SOAP in physiotherapy documentation stand for?
(A) Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
(B) Simple, Objective, Accurate, Precise
(C) Standard, Order, Analysis, Progress
(D) Summary, Opinion, Advice, Plan
11. Clinical prediction rules (CPRs) help physiotherapists:
(A) Decide appropriate interventions
(B) Avoid patient care
(C) Replace patient consent
(D) Stop exercise planning
12. A red flag in clinical decision making refers to:
(A) Serious underlying condition needing referral
(B) Minor muscle pain
(C) Normal fatigue
(D) A green light for treatment
13. Which reasoning type considers patient’s cultural and social background?
(A) Narrative reasoning
(B) Scientific reasoning
(C) Intuitive reasoning
(D) Diagnostic reasoning
14. Yellow flags in decision making are indicators of:
(A) Psychosocial risk factors for chronicity
(B) Cardiac emergencies
(C) Neurological deficits
(D) Musculoskeletal injuries only
15. Informed consent in physiotherapy ensures:
(A) Patient autonomy in decision making
(B) Avoiding patient rights
(C) Ignoring patient values
(D) Therapist-only decisions
16. The use of outcome measures in decision making allows:
(A) Tracking patient progress
(B) Avoiding reassessment
(C) Ending documentation
(D) Eliminating evidence-based practice
17. The “clinical reasoning cycle” emphasizes:
(A) Ongoing reflection and reassessment
(B) One-time treatment only
(C) Ignoring feedback
(D) Passive care
18. Which of the following is an example of ethical reasoning?
(A) Respecting patient confidentiality
(B) Ignoring patient opinion
(C) Focusing only on profit
(D) Overruling consent
19. Decision making in acute emergency cases often requires:
(A) Rapid intuitive reasoning
(B) Long literature reviews
(C) Delaying treatment
(D) Passive waiting
20. A physiotherapist deciding not to treat a patient due to suspected cancer signs is applying:
(A) Red flag reasoning and referral
(B) Ignorance
(C) Random choice
(D) Overconfidence
21. Reflection-on-action in decision making means:
(A) Analyzing past clinical experiences
(B) Making instant choices
(C) Ignoring outcomes
(D) Random decisions
22. Which is the best example of patient-centered decision making?
(A) Collaborating with patients to set goals
(B) Imposing therapist-only goals
(C) Avoiding patient discussion
(D) Focusing only on therapist’s convenience
23. Which reasoning type involves linking impairments to functional limitations?
(A) Diagnostic reasoning
(B) Ethical reasoning
(C) Narrative reasoning
(D) Prognostic reasoning
24. Prognostic reasoning in physiotherapy involves:
(A) Predicting patient outcomes
(B) Ignoring patient history
(C) Avoiding future planning
(D) Focusing on current pain only
25. The PICO framework in clinical decision making is used for:
(A) Formulating clinical questions
(B) Writing patient notes
(C) Performing exercises
(D) Treating fractures
26. Which part of PICO represents the treatment method?
(A) P – Population
(B) I – Intervention
(C) C – Comparison
(D) O – Outcome
27. Bias in decision making can be reduced by:
(A) Using evidence and standardized tools
(B) Personal assumptions only
(C) Ignoring guidelines
(D) Relying only on intuition
28. Which is NOT a clinical outcome measure?
(A) Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
(B) Goniometer ROM
(C) Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
(D) CT scan
29. Shared decision making emphasizes:
(A) Collaboration between patient and therapist
(B) Avoiding patient input
(C) Therapist-only authority
(D) Family-only decisions
30. Which type of reasoning is applied when considering cost-effectiveness of treatment?
(A) Pragmatic reasoning
(B) Intuitive reasoning
(C) Narrative reasoning
(D) Diagnostic reasoning
31. Evidence hierarchy places which type of study at the top?
(A) Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews
(B) Case reports
(C) Expert opinion
(D) Cross-sectional surveys
32. Which outcome is MOST important in clinical decision making?
(A) Patient functional improvement
(B) Therapist convenience
(C) Number of sessions billed
(D) Equipment availability
33. Which of the following represents reflection-in-action?
(A) Adjusting treatment during a session
(B) Reviewing a case after discharge
(C) Reading textbooks at home
(D) Writing research papers
34. Which factor is essential before clinical decision making?
(A) Comprehensive patient history and examination
(B) Skipping assessment
(C) Ignoring tests
(D) Relying on intuition alone
35. Decision making is MOST accurate when it combines:
(A) Research evidence, clinical expertise, patient values
(B) Only patient values
(C) Only therapist’s intuition
(D) Only equipment use
36. The Delphi method is sometimes used in physiotherapy to:
(A) Achieve expert consensus in decision making
(B) Provide electric stimulation
(C) Perform manual therapy
(D) Conduct lung tests
37. Which reasoning is applied when considering patient’s home environment for therapy?
(A) Contextual reasoning
(B) Intuitive reasoning
(C) Diagnostic reasoning
(D) Narrative reasoning
38. A physiotherapist deciding treatment frequency based on patient fatigue is applying:
(A) Clinical judgment with patient feedback
(B) Standardized scheduling
(C) Ignoring tolerance
(D) Passive decision making
39. Which of the following is a barrier to effective decision making?
(A) Lack of evidence
(B) Time pressure
(C) Poor communication
(D) All of the above
40. Clinical algorithms and pathways are used to:
(A) Standardize care and guide decisions
(B) Replace therapists
(C) Eliminate patient involvement
(D) Delay treatment
41. Which reasoning approach deals with “what should be done ethically”?
(A) Ethical reasoning
(B) Diagnostic reasoning
(C) Prognostic reasoning
(D) Intuitive reasoning
42. A physiotherapist changing treatment due to financial constraints is applying:
(A) Pragmatic reasoning
(B) Narrative reasoning
(C) Prognostic reasoning
(D) Ethical reasoning
43. Which test is MOST useful for evidence-based decision making?
(A) Valid and reliable outcome measure
(B) Therapist’s personal guess
(C) Random advice
(D) Patient’s neighbor’s suggestion
44. Which reasoning type involves predicting long-term recovery patterns?
(A) Prognostic reasoning
(B) Diagnostic reasoning
(C) Narrative reasoning
(D) Ethical reasoning
45. Which is an example of clinical red flag?
(A) Unexplained weight loss
(B) Night pain
(C) Neurological deficit
(D) All of the above
46. Decision trees in physiotherapy are used to:
(A) Provide structured decision pathways
(B) Replace therapists
(C) Avoid patient consent
(D) Skip assessments
47. Clinical judgment in physiotherapy improves with:
(A) Experience and reflective practice
(B) Ignoring outcomes
(C) Avoiding patient input
(D) Skipping evidence review
48. Which reasoning approach involves analyzing scientific evidence and pathophysiology?
(A) Scientific reasoning
(B) Narrative reasoning
(C) Ethical reasoning
(D) Contextual reasoning
49. In case of conflicting treatment options, the BEST approach is:
(A) Shared decision making with patient
(B) Ignoring patient opinion
(C) Choosing randomly
(D) Deferring indefinitely
50. Clinical decision making in physiotherapy ultimately aims at:
(A) Achieving best patient outcomes with safe, evidence-based care
(B) Maximizing therapist profit
(C) Reducing patient autonomy
(D) Avoiding treatment responsibilities