Analyzing a Research

Analyzing Research Paper
Identify and write a summary of the various factors that contribute to the credibility of a research article related to a diagnosis of interest that you identified from the Sentinel U simulation on Patient Management & Delegation, V2. In the acuity module, there are 10 patients listed with various diagnosis. Select one diagnosis of interest to you from the simulation.
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Introduction
Evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates the best evidence available to guide optimal nursing care, with a goal to enhance safety and quality. EBP is crucial to nursing practice because it incorporates the best evidence from current literature, along with the expertise of the practicing nurse. The concern for quality care that flows from EBP generates a desired outcome. Without these factors, a nurse cannot be an effective leader. It is important to lead not only from this position but from knowledge and expertise. To gain the knowledge, you require a good understanding of how to search for scholarly resources, as well as make decisions regarding the content of the scholarly resources.
Professional Context
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you will be responsible for providing patient-centered, competent care based on current evidence-based best practices. You will be required to do research, analysis, and dissemination of best evidence to stay abreast of these best practices. Understanding where to go to find credible evidence, determining the type of evidence and being able to make decisions based on the findings of credible evidence is the foundation of evidence-based care.
Preparation
Review the What Is Scholarly? Campus page. Specifically, look at the following two items on the page:
• What Are Peer-Reviewed Articles?
• Anatomy of a Scholarly Article.
These will give you the factors that contribute to credibility, which you will need to identify in the article you choose for this assessment.
Also, look at the "Find EPB Articles" section of the Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Health Sciences library guide (found in the guide's left-hand menu). This may help you locate an article to use for this assessment.
Instructions
Write a 2-page analysis of a scholarly research article, demonstrating your ability to locate credible, useful evidence related to a diagnosis of interest selected from the Sentinel U simulation on Patient Management & Delegation, V2. There are 10 patients, each with a different medical diagnosis. Select Day 1 and pick a patient with a diagnosis of interest to you. You will use this same diagnosis to complete all the assessments in this course.
Once you have chosen your diagnosis of interest from the Sentinel U simulation, complete the following:
• Use a credible search engine to locate a research article on your topic.
• Review the article for the following criteria:
o Type of study (quantitative or qualitative, the level on the pyramid of evidence, methodology).
o Credibility factors.
o Importance of content to selected diagnosis.
o The ability to apply the content in your current workplace or patient population.
• Take a screenshot of the abstract and paste it into a Word document (see the Example of Screenshot [PDF] document). You can refer to the instructions in the Taking Screenshots [PDF] document.
• Create a table or series of text boxes next to or below the screenshot and use that to label each criterion.
• Also take a screenshot of the patient and the diagnosis from Sentinel U simulation you used.
• Write up a summary of your findings on the second page. Note what information is important to your specified diagnosis. How credible is the article you've found and how useful is it related to your specified diagnosis and your ability to apply it?
• Include a link to your article.
• Include a reference to your article in APA format.
Review the Analyzing a Research Paper scoring guide for specific details of grading prior to submission.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
• Competency 1: Interpret findings from scholarly quantitative, qualitative, and outcomes research articles and studies.
o Determine the type of study and the level of evidence according to the pyramid of evidence.
o Identify the credibility factors of an article.
o Summarize the findings of an article, noting what information is important to a specified diagnosis.
• Competency 2: Analyze the relevance and potential effectiveness of evidence when making a decision.
o Summarize the ability to generalize article findings in a specified work space and patient population.
• Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly communication strategies to lead practice changes based on evidence.
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Full Answer Section

       
    • Type of Study:

      • Quantitative (measures outcomes with numbers), Qualitative (explores experiences and perspectives), or Mixed Methods (combines both)
      • Level of Evidence: Identify where the study falls on the pyramid of evidence (e.g., systematic review, randomized controlled trial, cohort study, case study). Higher levels generally indicate stronger evidence.
      • Methodology: Briefly describe the study design, participants, and data collection methods.
    • Credibility Factors:

      • Peer Review: Has the article been peer-reviewed by experts in the field?
      • Author Expertise: Are the authors qualified and experienced in the relevant area? Look at their affiliations and previous publications.
      • Journal Reputation: Is the journal reputable and well-regarded in the field? Check its impact factor or other metrics.
      • Funding Sources: Are there any potential conflicts of interest due to funding sources?
      • Ethical Considerations: Was the study conducted ethically, with appropriate informed consent and protection of participants?
      • Rigor: Does the study demonstrate rigor in its methodology, data analysis, and conclusions?
    • Importance of Content to Selected Diagnosis:

      • Explain how the article's findings are relevant to your chosen diagnosis.
      • Does it address a key issue or challenge in managing this diagnosis?
      • Does it provide new insights or evidence to support best practices?
    • Applicability to Workplace/Patient Population:

      • Can the findings be applied to your current workplace or patient population?
      • Are there any barriers or challenges to implementation?
      • What are the potential benefits of applying the findings?

(B) Summary of Findings (Second Page):

  • Summarize the key findings of the research article.
  • Discuss the credibility of the article based on the factors you identified.
  • Analyze the usefulness of the article in relation to your chosen diagnosis.
  • Explain how you could potentially apply the findings in your workplace or with your patient population.
  • Include the link to the article and its full APA citation.

Example (Hypothetical):

  • Diagnosis of Interest: Heart Failure
  • Article: A randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a new medication in reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.

(A) Table/Text Boxes:

Criterion Description
Type of Study Quantitative; Randomized Controlled Trial; Level II on the evidence pyramid
Credibility Factors Peer-reviewed; Authors are cardiologists and researchers at a reputable university; Published in a high-impact cardiology journal; Funding from a pharmaceutical company (potential conflict of interest disclosed); Ethical approval obtained
Importance to Diagnosis Provides strong evidence for the effectiveness of a new treatment option for heart failure; Addresses the key issue of reducing hospital readmissions, which improves patient outcomes and reduces healthcare costs.
Applicability Findings are applicable to my workplace (cardiology unit) and patient population (heart failure patients); Potential barrier is the high cost of the new medication; Potential benefits include improved patient outcomes and reduced readmissions.

(B) Summary:

This randomized controlled trial provides credible evidence supporting the use of [medication name] in reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients. The study was well-designed and conducted by experts in the field. The findings are highly relevant to my work in the cardiology unit, where we strive to improve outcomes and reduce readmissions for our heart failure patients. I will present these findings to my colleagues and explore the feasibility of incorporating this medication into our treatment protocols

Sample Answer

       

It sounds like you're working on an exciting assignment that bridges nursing simulation with real-world research! Here's a breakdown of how to approach this, combining the information you provided with general research analysis guidelines:

1. Choose Your Diagnosis of Interest

  • You'll be working with this diagnosis throughout your course, so make sure it's something that genuinely interests you.
  • Since you don't specify the diagnoses in the Sentinel U simulation, I can't give specific examples. However, common diagnoses in acuity modules might include:
    • Heart Failure
    • Pneumonia
    • Sepsis
    • Stroke
    • Acute Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)
    • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
    • Diabetes Mellitus
    • Renal Failure

2. Find a Credible Research Article

  • Use Reliable Databases: Start with databases like PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Your university library likely provides access to these.
  • Keywords: Use relevant keywords related to your diagnosis and the aspect you want to research (e.g., "heart failure nursing interventions," "pneumonia best practices," "sepsis early detection").
  • Filter for Peer Review: Most databases allow you to filter for peer-reviewed articles.

3. Analyze the Research Article

(A) Screenshot and Table/Text Boxes:

  • Abstract Screenshot: Capture the abstract of the article. This provides a concise summary of the study.

  • Table/Text Boxes: Create a table or text boxes alongside the abstract to address the following: