Module 2-Slides

Question 1

Step 2: Acquiring the Literature
Where do we find Evidence?

Answer 1

Literature includes all scholarly products (original research articles, reviews, books, dissertations, conference abstracts, proceedings, and website info.)

Question 2

Scientific Journals

Answer 2

Typically PEER REVIEWED: manuscripts are scrutinized by experts before published to assure a level of quality, therefore of HIGHER CREDIBILITY

Question 3

Magazines (Non-peer reviewed)

Answer 3

Provide useful summaries of information in the profession to give direction for further inquiry

Question 4

Government and Professional websites

Answer 4

NIH, AAPA, APTA

Question 5

Grey Literature

Answer 5

Government documents, fact sheets; provide demographic statistics, preliminary data on new intervention that is not made for publication (unpublished data)

Question 6

Primary Sources

Answer 6

Reports provided directly by the investigator:

RESEARCH ARTICLES in journals, presentations at professional meeting, and dissertations

Question 7

Secondary sources

Answer 7

Include reviews of studies presented by someone other than the original author

REVIEW ARTICLES and textbooks

Question 8

Credible Sources

Answer 8

Academic / scholarly journals

Question 9

Selected databases and Search engines

Answer 9

MEDLINE Complete and PubMed
Cochran Library
UpToDate
CINAHL Complete

Question 10

Search Process

Answer 10

It might take more than one search to be successful

1. Design search-identify keywords /subject headings
2. Run search
3. Refine-apply limits/filters; identify new keywords
4. Screen citations for relevance- titles and abstracts
5. Review reference lists-identify additional references
6. Keep relevant papers-for further review

Question 11

Boolean Operators

Answer 11

Combining terms:
A AND B: to narrow the search

Alternative terms:
A OR B: to broaden the search

Question 12

LIMIT search

Answer 12

too many citations:
replace general terms with specific
include additional terms
use sidebar filters to restrict results by date, full text, article type, and more

Question 13

EXPAND search

Answer 13

too few citations:
see SIMILAR articles section for pre-calc set of additional citations related to that article
remove extraneous or specific terms
use alternative terms (synonyms)

Question 14

Clinical Research

Answer 14

STRUCTURED PROCESS of INVESTIGATING facts and theories and EXPLORING connections, with the purpose of IMPROVING INDIVIDUAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Question 15

Step 3: Appraising research evidence

Answer 15

1. According to “PURPOSE of Research”
2. Based upon the APPROACH of Research
3. DEGREE OF MANIPULATION/CONTROL of Researchers

Question 16

1. According to “PURPOSE of Research”

Answer 16

Descriptive Research
Exploratory Research
Explanatory Research

Question 17

Descriptive Research

Answer 17

To document NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS of phenomena through systematic collection of data

Question 18

Exploratory Research

Answer 18

To investigate RELATIONSHIPS between or among variables; usually involves one group of subjects with measurements taken of different variables - math relationship is established among the variables

Question 19

Explanatory Research

Answer 19

To compare DIFFERENCES IN OUTCOME MEASURES between/ among different treatments or conditions

Question 20

Variables

Answer 20

IV- Intervention(s) or treatments
DV- Outcome(s)
Level of IV: # of subject groups
Operational definition (OD): how it will be used in a particular study; how an IV will be manipulated, and/or how a DV will be measured

Question 21

2. Based upon the APPROACH of Research

Answer 21

Quantitative Research
Qualitative Research

Question 22

Quantitative Research

Answer 22

Research with measurement of outcomes using numerical data under standardized conditions

Question 23

Qualitative Research

Answer 23

Research that derives data from observation, interview or verbal interaction and focuses on the meaning of experience of the participants

Question 24

3. According to DEGREE OF MANIPULATION/CONTROL of Researchers

Answer 24

Experimental Research
Non-Experimental Research

Question 25

Experimental Research

Answer 25

The design in which the investigator manipulates the IV
-randomly assigning subjects to groups
-managing dose or frequency of medication/therapy

*Cause-and-Effect relationship can only be established with this design

Question 26

Non-Experimental Research

Answer 26

Researchers does not control/manipulate/alter the IV or subjects, but relies on interpretation, observation or interactions to come to a conclusion
Survey research; correlational study

Question 27

Step 3: APPRAISE the Literature

Answer 27

Once acquired, it must be CRITICALLY APPRAISED to determine whether it meets QUALITY standards and whether the findings are MEANINGFUL and RELEVANT to the clinical question

3 Qs

Question 28

Anatomy of Research Article

Answer 28

Title
Abstract
Body of the Text:
-Introduction
-Methods (KEY TO APPRAISE EVIDENCE)
-Results
-Discussion/Conclusion
References

Question 29

Introduction

Answer 29

Defines MAIN PROBLEMS underlying study
Identify the KNOWLEDGE GAP in the literature
Provide RATIONALE for a need of the study
Present the research HYPOTHESIS to be tested
State the specific PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES of the study

Question 30

Methods

Answer 30

Describe the conduct/performance of the study, and sub-divided into:
Subjects/Participants-Who? Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria?
Design-Appropriate answer of Q? Bias controlled/use Blinding?
Instrument/Evaluation-instrument documentation reliability and validity?
Procedure-data collection described clearly? can it be replicated?
Data analyses- How? Analyzed properly? Statistical tests used?

Question 31

Methods Cont’d

Answer 31

Summarized as W&H Qs:

Who
Where: site of performance
What: Procedures/Protocol
How: data analyses

All answer the Appraisal Q #1 Is the study VALID?

Question 32

Results

Answer 32

Report the findings of the study without interpretation or commentary (FACT ONLY)
Answer in the order of the stated purposes in the text (tables/figures)
Present outcome of statistical analyses

Answer the Appraisal Q #2 Are the results meaningful?
-sample sufficiently representative of target population?
-is the effect large enough to be clinically meaningful?

Question 33

Discussion

Answer 33

Present authors’ interpretations of the results
Compare results w/previous pertinent studies
Indicate limitations of the study
Discuss the RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
Suggest future directions

Question 34

Conclusion

Answer 34

Restate the findings of the study w/respect to the purpose or hypothesis outlined in the introduction

D&C answer the Appraisal Q #3 Are the results relevant to my pt?
-Were the subjects in the study sufficiently similar to my pt?
-Is the approach feasible in my setting and will it be acceptable to my pt?