Title: Strategies for Identifying Articles on Evidence-Based Practice Topics
Introduction:
Identifying relevant articles is a critical step in conducting research on evidence-based practice topics. This initial paper aims to outline the search strategies employed to find articles related to our group’s chosen topic. The paper will also describe the decision-making process involved in selecting articles for further review. Additionally, the level of evidence and study type of each chosen article will be identified.
Problem Description:
To begin, it is essential to accurately and clearly state the research question using the PICO format. PICO stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. By formulating the research question in this structured manner, it becomes easier to search for relevant articles and ensure the focus remains on evidence-based practice.
Overview and Significance:
It is crucial to provide an overview of the problem and establish its significance in terms of outcomes or statistics. This section should include relevant facts and figures that highlight the problem at hand. By contextualizing the problem with statistical evidence, the reader gains a better understanding of its impact and why it should be a cause for concern.
Search Terms and Databases:
The next step in the search process is to list all the terms used to search for articles. This involves identifying appropriate keywords and phrases that are closely related to the research question. These terms will be used in various combinations to conduct searches in relevant databases.
It is important to make use of appropriate library databases for the search. In our case, we will utilize the Chamberlain library database as it provides access to a wide range of scholarly articles. Additionally, Google search engine will be considered as a supplement to the library database search. The inclusion of both sources helps ensure comprehensive coverage.
Research Articles Availability:
After conducting the search using the identified terms and databases, it is necessary to report the number of research articles available to answer the research question. The number of available articles should be specified quantitatively rather than using vague terms like “plenty” or “sufficient.” This allows for accurate assessment of the search results.
Decision-Making and Rationale:
During the search process, it is common to make decisions to refine the article selection. These decisions are made to narrow down the range of articles for further review. It is important to describe the specific decisions made to ensure transparency and reproducibility of the search process.
When discussing the rationale behind the decision to change from the original search strategies, it is crucial to provide a clear justification. This may include factors such as the relevance of the articles, the quality of the study design, or the availability of data.
Selection and Relevance of Articles:
Once the search results have been refined, the paper should describe how each selected article addresses the research topic, purpose, and key points. This section allows for a comprehensive analysis of how the chosen articles contribute to answering the research question.
Level of Evidence and Study Type:
To assess the quality and reliability of the selected articles, it is important to refer to the Evidence Level/Hierarchy Pyramid. This pyramid provides a framework for categorizing the level of evidence based on the study design. Each selected article should be identified and described according to its evidence level and study type, whether quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this initial paper has outlined the strategies used to identify articles related to our evidence-based practice topic. The selection process involved making decisions to refine the search results, and the rationale behind these decisions was explained. The chosen articles were assessed in terms of their relevance to the research question and their level of evidence and study type. By following these strategies, we have ensured a comprehensive and methodical approach to conducting research on our evidence-based practice topic.
