Evidence-based research in nursing
Evidence-based practice in nursing is an integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and a patient's preferences. This problem-solving approach to clinical practice encourages nurses to provide individualized patient care.
Identifying a client problem (nausea and vomiting), performing a literature review to learn about solutions to this problem that have been studied (use of ginger), and applying the information gained to client in one's practice (recommending ginger to obstetrical clients with nausea and vomiting) are a great example.
The PICO (population, intervention, control, and outcomes) format is considered a widely known strategy for framing a "foreground" research question. The PICO format is commonly used in evidence-based clinical practice. This format creates a "well-built" question that identifies four concepts: (1) the Patient problem or Population, (2) the intervention, (3) the Comparison (if there is one), and (4) the Outcome(s).
A good PICO will be specific and define terms and outcomes if necessary. A good PICO will investigate something new in terms of diagnosis, etiology, therapy, harm, etc. A bad PICO is usually a background question disguised as a research question.
Clinical questions can be narrowed down to four types: therapy, prognosis, diagnosis and economic/decision analysis.
Fill in the blanks with information from your clinical scenario:
THERAPY
In_______________, what is the effect of ________________on _______________ compared with _________________?
PREVENTION
For ___________ does the use of _________________ reduce the future risk of ____________ compared with ______________?
DIAGNOSIS OR DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Are (Is) ________________ more accurate in diagnosing _______________ compared with ____________?
PROGNOSIS
Does ____________ influence ______________ in patients who have _____________?
ETIOLOGY
Are ______________ who have _______________ at ______________ risk for/of ____________ compared with _____________
with/without______________?
MEANING
How do _______________ diagnosed with _______________ perceive __________________?
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.