NURS FPX 8045 Assessment 3 Craft a PICOT question and a Search Research

Student Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX 8045 Doctoral Writing and Professional Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Introduction

In the healthcare domain, precision in formulating clinical questions is crucial for advancing evidence-based practice. This paper aims to create a PICOT question relevant to professional interests, particularly for a potential Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project. The subsequent discussion will focus on developing a search strategy aligned with the requirements for this assessment.

Crafting the PICOT Question

In the context of a DNP project, formulating a PICOT question is essential to address a pertinent issue for quality improvement. Using the recommended format, the crafted PICOT question is:

In patients undergoing cardiac surgery (P), how does the implementation of a structured postoperative care protocol (I) compared to standard care (C) influence the incidence of postoperative complications (O) within the first 30 days following surgery (T)?

This question targets a specific patient population (undergoing cardiac surgery) and compares the impact of implementing a structured postoperative care protocol to standard care on postoperative complications within a defined timeframe.

Search Strategy Development

To effectively address the PICOT question, a comprehensive search strategy is imperative. Key components include:

Electronic Databases: Utilizing reputable databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library for diverse scholarly articles and systematic reviews.

Key Search Terms: Employing relevant keywords and controlled vocabulary specific to PICOT elements, e.g., “cardiac surgery,” “postoperative care,” “complications,” and “structured protocol.”

Exclusion Criteria: Excluding studies not focusing on the specified patient population, cardiac surgery, or those not reporting relevant outcomes within the stipulated timeframe.

Literature Review: Identifying evidence-based interventions related to structured postoperative care protocols and their impact on complications.

Source Selection: Choosing sources based on relevance to PICOT elements, methodological rigor, and applicability of interventions in a DNP project context.

The search strategy aims to gather evidence supporting the implementation of a structured postoperative care protocol in cardiac surgery patients for an effective DNP project.

Results of the Search

The search yielded 75 articles from selected databases. After careful examination, 35 articles were retained based on alignment with the PICOT question and relevance to the DNP project. Excluded sources primarily comprised studies focusing on different surgical populations or lacking detailed information on postoperative complications.

Conclusion

Crafting a PICOT question and developing a search strategy are pivotal steps in DNP project preparation. The question must address a specific problem, and the search strategy should be comprehensive for evidence-based support. This process ensures that the subsequent DNP project is well-informed and evidence-based.

References

Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Wolters Kluwer.

Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. Wolters Kluwer.

Higgins, J. P., & Green, S. (Eds.). (2011). Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. Wiley.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2012). Developing NICE guidelines: The manual. Retrieved from https://www.nice.org.uk/process/pmg20/chapter/introduction

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2021). Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470399/

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006). The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. Retrieved from https://www.aacnnursing.org/DNP/Essentials

Drummond, D., & Collin, C. (2001). Implementing evidence-based changes in healthcare. BMJ, 323(7317), 1025–1026. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.323.7317.1025

Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6(7), e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097

NURS FPX 8045 Assessment 3 Craft a PICOT question and a Search Research