NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research
NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research – Step-by-Step Guide
The first step before starting to write the NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment.
It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research
The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list.
You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research
The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.
How to Write the Body for NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research
The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.
How to Write the In-text Citations for NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research
In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:
The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research
When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.
How to Format the Reference List for NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research
The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded, in sentence sentence care. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication.
Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:
References
Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456
Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.
NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research Instructions
Realtors rely on detailed property appraisals—conducted using appraisal tools—to assign market values to houses and other properties. These values are then presented to buyers and sellers to set prices and initiate offers. Have a look at NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 4: Recommending an Evidence-Based Practice Change.
Research appraisal is not that different. The critical appraisal process utilizes formal appraisal tools to assess the results of research to determine value to the context at hand. Evidence-based practitioners often present these findings to make the case for specific courses of action.
In this Assignment, you will use an appraisal tool to conduct a critical appraisal of published research. You will then present the results of your efforts.
To Prepare:
Reflect on the four peer-reviewed articles you selected in Module 2 and the four systematic reviews (or other filtered high- level evidence) you selected in Module 3.
Reflect on the four peer-reviewed articles you selected in Module 2 and analyzed in Module 3.
Review and download the Critical Appraisal Tool Worksheet Template provided in the Resources.
The Assignment (Evidence-Based Project)
Part 3A: Critical Appraisal of Research
Conduct a critical appraisal of the four peer-reviewed articles you selected by completing the Evaluation Table within the Critical Appraisal Tool Worksheet Template. Choose a total of four peer-reviewed articles that you selected related to your clinical topic of interest in Module 2 and Module 3.
Note: You can choose any combination of articles from Modules 2 and 3 for your Critical Appraisal. For example, you may choose two unfiltered research articles from Module 2 and two filtered research articles (systematic reviews) from Module 3 or one article from Module 2 and three articles from Module 3. You can choose any combination of articles from the prior Module Assignments as long as both modules and types of studies are represented.
Part 3B: Critical Appraisal of Research
Based on your appraisal, in a 1-2-page critical appraisal, suggest a best practice that emerges from the research you reviewed.
Briefly explain the best practice, justifying your proposal with APA citations of the research.
NURS 6052 Evidence-Based Project Part 3: Critical Appraisal Of Research Example
Part 3A Critical Appraisal Tool Worksheet Template |
Evaluation Table
Use this document to complete the evaluation table requirement of the Module 4 Assessment, Evidence-Based Project, Part 3A: Critical Appraisal of Research
| Full APA formatted citation of selected article. | Article #1 | Article #2 | Article #3 | Article #4 |
| Wang, J., Liu, F., Tan, J. B. X., Harbarth, S., Pittet, D., & Zingg, W. (2019). Implementing infection prevention and control in acute care hospitals in Mainland China–a systematic review. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 8, 1-16. https://doi.org/ | Rutala, W. A., & Weber, D. J. (2019). Best practices for disinfection of non-critical environmental surfaces and equipment in health care facilities: A bundle approach. American Journal of Infection Control, 47S, A96–A105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. | Wee, L. E. I., Conceicao, E. P., Tan, J. Y., Magesparan, K. D., Amin, I. B. M., Ismail, B. B. S., Toh, H. X., Jin, P., Zhang, J., Wee, E. G. L., Ong, S. J. M., Lee, G. L. X., Wang, A. E., How, M. K. B., Tan, K. Y., Lee, L. C., Phoon, P. C., Yang, Y., Aung, M. K., Sim, X. Y. J. and Ling, M. L. (2021). Unintended consequences of infection prevention and control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal of infection control, 49(4), 469–477. https://doi.org/10. | Vaismoradi, M., Tella, S., A. Logan, P., Khakurel, J., & Vizcaya-Moreno, F. (2020). Nurses’ adherence to patient safety principles: A systematic review. International Journal of environmental research and public health, 17(6), 2028. https://doi.org/10. | |
| Evidence Level *
(I, II, or III)
|
Level I evidence | Level II evidence. | Level III evidence | Level I evidence |
| Conceptual Framework
Describe the theoretical basis for the study (If there is not one mentioned in the article, say that here).** |
The data sources included in the systematic review are from PubMed and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure. Data collected was mainly reports on areas structure, organization and management of infection prevention and control. The systematic review aimed to assess the adoption and implementation of the government’s infection control and prevention tools and compare with WHO and CDC tools. | Non-critical items and surfaces considerably lead to infection since germs can stay on these surfaces long. Therefore, the article aimed to review and update studies on surface and non-critical items disinfection. | Other hospital-acquired infections were also noted despite implementing covid-19 infection prevention measures. Therefore, there was a need to assess the effect of these infection prevention strategies and measures on other hospital-acquired infections. | Hospital-acquired infections are a major patient safety issue and a measure of care quality. The infection rate highly depends on nurses’ adherence to patient safety principles. The study was therefore developed to evaluate nurses’ adherence to patient safety principles. |
| Design/Method
Describe the design and how the study was carried out (In detail, including inclusion/ exclusion criteria). |
The systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The primary outcomes were the adoption and implementation of IPC, while secondary outcomes were reporting on changes in indicators. The inclusion criteria included any article using mixed methods, reporting on the primary or secondary outcomes, and published between 2012 and 2017. | The research method in this article is mixed. Data was collected from different healthcare facilities using surveys. The surveys contained quantitative and qualitative data, which were analyzed using descriptive and thematic analysis. | A multimodal aggressive infection prevention and control strategy originally developed for covid-19 was implemented, and the rate of different hospital-acquired infections was compared pre and post-the strategy’s implementation. | The PRISMA method was applied to inform the review. Electronic databases in English and Norwegian were searched to retrieve empirical articles published between 2010 and 2019. The exclusion criteria included grey literature such as dissertations, studies published outside the inclusion time frame, and studies without patient safety principles |
| Sample/Setting
The number and characteristics of patients, attrition rate, etc. |
56 studies were eligible for the final analysis. 27 were surveys, 17 were observational, and 12 were interventional studies. The articles were either on hand hygiene promotion or best practice intervention and applying for educational and training programs. | 30 Healthcare facilities were randomly selected. They were then assessed on their surfaces and non-critical items disinfection. | The strategy was implemented across a large healthcare campus in Singapore, comprising improved segregation of patients with respiratory symptoms, universal masking and heightened adherence to Standard Precautions. | 84 articles were relevant and met the inclusion criteria. However, only 6 were used in the meta-analysis since they primarily focused on nurses. |
| Major Variables Studied
List and define dependent and independent variables |
The variables studied are the adoption and implementation of infection control tools. | The independent variable is the role of non-critical items and surfaces disinfection in infection control. The dependent variable is the infection control bundle. | The rate of hospital-acquired infection is the dependent variable, while the independent variable is the multimodal infection prevention and control strategy. | The variable studied is patient safety principles adherence among nurses. |
| Measurement
Identify primary statistics used to answer clinical questions (You need to list the actual tests done). |
The survey results were calculated at the hospital level and stratified by hospital category. The difference in each element was tested using Pearson’s Chi-square. | The survey results were analyzed using thematic analysis. | The incidence-rate-ration method was used to compare the rate of infections before and after the strategy’s implementation. | Vincent’s framework for analyzing risk and safety in clinical practice was used to organize and connect the review findings to the wider theoretical perspective of patient safety. |
| Data Analysis Statistical or
Qualitative findings (You need to enter the actual numbers determined by the statistical tests or qualitative data). |
Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 14, and the results were summarized descriptively. Infection prevention and control elements were identified in more tertiary hospitals. Gaps in organization and management of infection prevention and control noted. | The qualitative findings from the survey were analyzed using thematic analysis. The factors that most healthcare facilities found important in infection prevention and control from non-critical items and services include having an ideal disinfectant and creating policies for disinfecting surfaces and items regularly. | Pre-pandemic, the campus-wide cumulative incidence of Hospital Acquired Infection was 9.69 cases per 10,000 patient days (989 cases; 1,020,463 patient-days), while After the introduction of enhanced IPC measures, the incidence was 0.83 cases per 10,000 patient-days (22 cases; 264,904 patient-days). | Using the framework, the factors impacting nurses’ adherence to patient safety principles were categorized into patients, healthcare providers, tasks, work environment, and organization and management. |
| Findings and Recommendations
General findings and recommendations of the research |
The adoption and implementation of infection prevention and control measures were mainly those proposed by WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. | Most of the surveyed care facilities (70%) had internally developed infection control measures. The research recommends using infection prevention and control bundles, which are more effective. | The key findings in the study were that the robust infection prevention and control measures implemented during covid-19 had positive consequences on other hospital-acquired infections. | The general findings included that different nurses fail to adhere to patient safety principles due to different factors in the identified categories. |
| Appraisal and Study Quality
Describe the general worth of this research to practice. What are the strengths and limitations of study? What are the risks associated with implementation of the suggested practices or processes detailed in the research? What is the feasibility of use in your practice? |
Since there are different infection prevention and control tools, their adoption and implementation are unclear. The study reviewed the adoption and implementation of these tools, thus significant in practice. The study’s strength is that it entailed only surveys, thus straightforward. The limitation is publication bias. The use of infection prevention and control recommended practices can be used to lead to better outcomes. | The study is important in practice since it aims to recommend a bundle that can be used to improve patient safety. The overall strength is that the article incorporated only best-practice infection prevention measures. However, only 30 hospitals completed the survey. Implementing infection prevention and control bundles may be difficult if some elements are unavailable. The infection control bundle is feasible in my practice since it entails best-practice measures and is attributed to positive outcomes. | The study informed infection prevention practice during the Covid-19 era in that other hospital-acquired infections were still being prevented. Different hospital-acquired infections were analyzed, thus a strength of the study. Focusing on one set is a significant limitation of the study since it cannot be generalized. The risks associated with implementing the multimodal strategy is that it may miss out on serious infection control such as CAUTIs infection control. Since it had positive outcomes, the study is feasible in my practice. | The research informs practice by enabling nurses to identify factors affecting patient safety principles adherence, thus preventing infections.
The study was precise since few studies were analyzed comprehensively. Having few studies in the review is a limitation. The study is feasible in practice since it can assist nurses in identifying areas limiting patient safety principles adherence, thus strengthening infection prevention and control. |
|
Key findings
|
Elements of recommended infection control measures are easily adopted and implemented in hospitals. | Best practice measures in the bundle are; creating policies and procedures; selecting cleaning and disinfecting products; educating staff, patient equipment, and nursing; monitoring compliance and feedback; implementing “no touch” room decontamination technology; and ensuring compliance for patients on contact and enteric precautions. | The key finding is that the infection prevention and control strategies developed for Covid-19 infection were also positive in preventing other hospital-acquired infections. | Inadequate adherence to the principles of patient safety compromises infection prevention and control. |
|
Outcomes
|
Using recommended infection prevention and control measures led to reduced infections. | The recommended bundle enhances infection prevention and control, thus improving patient safety. | The multimodal infection prevention strategy reduced the rate of other hospital-acquired infections. | Nurses should adhere to patient safety principles to maintain low hospital-acquired infections. |
| General Notes/
Comments |
Recommended infection control measures can be adopted to reduce infections in acute care settings. | Implementing infection prevention bundles has better outcomes than individual measures. | New infection prevention and control strategies may also positively affect other infections. | Adherence to patient safety principles promotes infection prevention and control. |
- Level I
Experimental, randomized controlled trial (RCT), systematic review RTCs with or without meta-analysis
- Level II
Quasi-experimental studies, systematic review of a combination of RCTs and quasi-experimental studies, or quasi-experimental studies only, with or without meta-analysis
- Level III
Nonexperimental, systematic review of RCTs, quasi-experimental with/without meta-analysis, qualitative, qualitative systematic review with/without meta-synthesis
- Level IV
Respected authorities’ opinions, nationally recognized expert committee/consensus panel reports based on scientific evidence.
- Level V
Literature reviews, quality improvement, program evaluation, financial evaluation, case reports, nationally recognized expert(s) opinion based on experiential evidence
**Note on Conceptual Framework
- Researchers create theoretical and conceptual frameworks that include a philosophical and methodological model to help design their work. A formal theory provides context for the outcome of the events conducted in the research. The data collection and analysis are also based on the theoretical and conceptual framework.
- As stated by Grant and Osanloo (2014), “Without a theoretical framework, the structure and vision for a study is unclear, much like a house that cannot be constructed without a blueprint. By contrast, a research plan that contains a theoretical framework allows the dissertation study to be strong and structured with an organized flow from one chapter to the next.”
- Theoretical and conceptual frameworks provide evidence of academic standards and procedure. They also offer an explanation of why the study is pertinent and how the researcher expects to fill the gap in the literature.
- Literature does not always clearly delineate between a theoretical or conceptual framework. With that being said, there are slight differences between the two.
References
Rutala, W. A., & Weber, D. J. (2019). Best practices for disinfection of non-critical environmental surfaces and equipment in health care facilities: A bundle approach. American Journal of Infection Control, 47S, A96–A105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2019.01.014
Vaismoradi, M., Tella, S., A. Logan, P., Khakurel, J., & Vizcaya-Moreno, F. (2020). Nurses’ adherence to patient safety principles: A systematic review. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 17(6), 2028. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17062028
Wang, J., Liu, F., Tan, J. B. X., Harbarth, S., Pittet, D., & Zingg, W. (2019). Implementing infection prevention and control in acute care hospitals in Mainland China–a systematic review. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 8, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-019-0481-y
Wee, L. E. I., Conceicao, E. P., Tan, J. Y., Magesparan, K. D., Amin, I. B. M., Ismail, B. B. S., Toh, H. X., Jin, P., Zhang, J., Wee, E. G. L., Ong, S. J. M., Lee, G. L. X., Wang, A. E., How, M. K. B., Tan, K. Y., Lee, L. C., Phoon, P. C., Yang, Y., Aung, M. K., Sim, X. Y. J. and Ling, M. L. (2021). Unintended consequences of infection prevention and control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal Of Infection Control, 49(4), 469–477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.10.019
Part 3B Critical Appraisal of Research
Infection prevention and control is a major clinical issue that leads to clinical inquiry. Hospital-acquired infections are also a patient safety issue that leads to increased care costs to the individual and the system, hospitalization, decreased quality of life, and even mortality cases. Therefore, infection prevention and control measures should be taken seriously. In addition, Vaismoradi et al. (2020) note that nurses are at the frontline in preventing hospital-acquired infections by adhering to patient safety principles and maintaining infection prevention and control measures in their nursing interventions. This discussion presents a best practice emerging from the literature reviewed in part 3A.
The best practice emerging from the reviewed literature is customized infection prevention and control bundles. According to Rutala and Webber (2019), an infection prevention and control bundle is a set of 3-5 best-practice infection control measures that, when used together, produce desirable outcomes. Wang et al. (2019) note that most healthcare settings, primarily acute care settings are most likely to adopt and implement recommended best-practice strategies.
Therefore, bundle can be customized to fit a care institution’s category, size, and infection control needs. An infection prevention and control bundle is appropriate and suitable over other strategies since it entails a combination of best-practice measures. More so, it can prevent more infections than intended due to the integration of various infection-prevention best-practice measures (Wee et al., 2021).
Various infection prevention and control measures exist. However, a single measure may be ineffective in preventing all infection types. Best practice measures in the bundle would include disinfecting non-critical items and surfaces, handwashing and hygiene, and assessment tools. Hence, the recommended infection prevention and control bundle will effectively prevent different infections and thus promote patient safety.
References
Rutala, W. A., & Weber, D. J. (2019). Best practices for disinfection of non-critical environmental surfaces and equipment in health care facilities: A bundle approach. American Journal of Infection Control, 47S, A96–A105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2019.01.014
Vaismoradi, M., Tella, S., A. Logan, P., Khakurel, J., & Vizcaya-Moreno, F. (2020). Nurses’ adherence to patient safety principles: A systematic review. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 17(6), 2028. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17062028
Wang, J., Liu, F., Tan, J. B. X., Harbarth, S., Pittet, D., & Zingg, W. (2019). Implementing infection prevention and control in acute care hospitals in Mainland China–a systematic review. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 8, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-019-0481-y
Wee, L. E. I., Conceicao, E. P., Tan, J. Y., Magesparan, K. D., Amin, I. B. M., Ismail, B. B. S., Toh, H. X., Jin, P., Zhang, J., Wee, E. G. L., Ong, S. J. M., Lee, G. L. X., Wang, A. E., How, M. K. B., Tan, K. Y., Lee, L. C., Phoon, P. C., Yang, Y., Aung, M. K., Sim, X. Y. J. and Ling, M. L. (2021). Unintended consequences of infection prevention and control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal of Infection Control, 49(4), 469–477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.10.019
