Module 2-Slides Flashcards
Step 2: Acquiring the Literature
Where do we find Evidence?
Literature includes all scholarly products (original research articles, reviews, books, dissertations, conference abstracts, proceedings, and website info.)
Scientific Journals
Typically PEER REVIEWED: manuscripts are scrutinized by experts before published to assure a level of quality, therefore of HIGHER CREDIBILITY
Magazines (Non-peer reviewed)
Provide useful summaries of information in the profession to give direction for further inquiry
Government and Professional websites
NIH, AAPA, APTA
Grey Literature
Government documents, fact sheets; provide demographic statistics, preliminary data on new intervention that is not made for publication (unpublished data)
Primary Sources
Reports provided directly by the investigator:
RESEARCH ARTICLES in journals, presentations at professional meeting, and dissertations
Secondary sources
Include reviews of studies presented by someone other than the original author
REVIEW ARTICLES and textbooks
Credible Sources
Academic / scholarly journals
Selected databases and Search engines
MEDLINE Complete and PubMed
Cochran Library
UpToDate
CINAHL Complete
Search Process
It might take more than one search to be successful
- Design search-identify keywords /subject headings
- Run search
- Refine-apply limits/filters; identify new keywords
- Screen citations for relevance- titles and abstracts
- Review reference lists-identify additional references
- Keep relevant papers-for further review
Boolean Operators
Combining terms:
A AND B: to narrow the search
Alternative terms:
A OR B: to broaden the search
LIMIT search
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
EXPAND search
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)
Clinical Research
STRUCTURED PROCESS of INVESTIGATING facts and theories and EXPLORING connections, with the purpose of IMPROVING INDIVIDUAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Step 3: Appraising research evidence
- According to “PURPOSE of Research”
- Based upon the APPROACH of Research
- DEGREE OF MANIPULATION/CONTROL of Researchers
- According to “PURPOSE of Research”
Descriptive Research
Exploratory Research
Explanatory Research
Descriptive Research
To document NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS of phenomena through systematic collection of data
Exploratory Research
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
Explanatory Research
To compare DIFFERENCES IN OUTCOME MEASURES between/ among different treatments or conditions
Variables
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
- Based upon the APPROACH of Research
Quantitative Research
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Research with measurement of outcomes using numerical data under standardized conditions
Qualitative Research
Research that derives data from observation, interview or verbal interaction and focuses on the meaning of experience of the participants
- According to DEGREE OF MANIPULATION/CONTROL of Researchers
Experimental Research
Non-Experimental Research
Experimental Research
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
Non-Experimental Research
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
Step 3: APPRAISE the Literature
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
Anatomy of Research Article
Title
Abstract
Body of the Text:
-Introduction
-Methods (KEY TO APPRAISE EVIDENCE)
-Results
-Discussion/Conclusion
References
Introduction
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
Methods
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?
Methods Cont’d
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?
Results
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?
Discussion
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
Conclusion
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?
