How were variables defined? Were the instruments designed to measure a concept valid (did they measure what the researchers said they measured)?

Evidence Base Practice Plan Paper Guidelines

Guidelines:
1. Write a clinical question using the PICOT format (population/patient, intervention, comparison, outcome(s), and time.

a. Should reflect uncertainty in clinical practice

b. The question is phrased using the PICOT (i.e., Patient population, Intervention, Comparison or comparison group, Outcome(s), Time period [if applicable to the question/concern]) format. The following is an example of a PICOT question:

In newborn infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), does oral sucrose administration provide better non-pharmacologic pain oral sucrose management than non-nutritive sucking during heel sticks?

2. Collection of the strongest, most relevant evidence to answer the question. Search the evidence and define the level of evidence found

Select three (3) research articles that address your PICOT question. These must be reports of single, original research studies and can be either quantitative or qualitative studies.

Do not use reviews of literature, clinical practice guidelines, or meta-syntheses. You may use mixed-methods studies if they report on a single project. You will be marked down if your articles do not meet these criteria. You may use articles that you have selected for previous assignments (i.e. discussion forums).

3. Appraise the evidence for evidence based practice

a. What is the quality of the evidence? How rigorous and reliable is it?

b. What is the evidence-magnitude of effects?

c. What is precision of estimates?

d. What evidence is there of side effects/benefits?

e. What is financial cost of applying the evidence?

f. Is the evidence relevant to my practice?

4. Extract the data. Complete the evaluation table for your two articles chosen.

5. Develop a plan for implementation

Critical Appraisal Guide

Critical Appraisal Guide for Quantitative Studies

1. Why was the study done?

• Was there a clear explanation of the purpose of the study and, if so, what was it?

2. What is the sample size?

• Were there enough people in the study to establish that the findings did not occur by chance?

3. Are the instruments of the major variables valid and reliable?

• How were variables defined? Were the instruments designed to measure a concept valid (did they measure what the researchers said they measured)? Were they reliable (did they measure a concept the same way every time they were used)?

4. How were the data analyzed?

• What statistics were used to determine if the purpose of the study was achieved?

5. Were there any untoward events during the study?

• Did people leave the study and, if so, was there something special about them?

6. How do the results fit with previous research in the area?

• Did the researchers base their work on a thorough literature review?

7. What does this research mean for clinical practice?

• Is the study purpose an important clinical issue?