Once you have selected a PICOT question discuss your strat…
When conducting a systematic search and review of the literature to answer a PICOT question, it is important to develop a well-structured and comprehensive strategy. This ensures that all relevant evidence is identified and critically appraised to determine the best evidence available.
To begin, it is helpful to start by clearly defining the key concepts of the PICOT question: elderly patients, pressure ulcers, negative pressure wound therapy, standard moist wound therapy, healing of pressure ulcers, and hospital stay. This will help guide the search process and ensure that all relevant literature is included.
Next, identify the appropriate databases to search for relevant literature. Common databases for healthcare research include PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. Each database offers a unique collection of journals and articles, so it is important to search multiple databases to ensure a comprehensive search.
When developing search terms, combination of keywords and MeSH terms should be considered. For the given PICOT question, search terms could include “elderly,” “pressure ulcers,” “negative pressure wound therapy,” “moist wound therapy,” “healing,” and “hospital stay.” These terms can be combined using Boolean operators (AND, OR) to refine the search and retrieve relevant articles.
Additionally, it is important to include inclusion and exclusion criteria to further refine the search process. In this case, the inclusion criteria could include studies conducted on elderly patients (above 60 years) with pressure ulcers and comparing the effects of negative pressure wound therapy versus standard moist wound therapy on the healing of pressure ulcers during their two-week hospital stay. Exclusion criteria could include studies conducted on pediatric patients or those with different types of wounds.
Once the search is conducted and relevant articles are identified, it is important to critically appraise the literature to determine the quality and validity of the evidence. This can be done using established appraisal tools, such as the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) or the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklists. These tools help assess the methodological rigor of the studies, including study design, sample size, data collection methods, and statistical analysis.
When critically appraising the literature, it is important to consider the level of evidence provided by each study. Melnyk’s Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare provides an appraisal list that can be used to evaluate the quality and strength of the evidence. This list includes criteria such as study design, sample size, and statistical analysis.
Finally, it is important to synthesize the findings from the critically appraised literature and draw conclusions based on the best available evidence. This involves comparing and contrasting the results of the studies, identifying any patterns or inconsistencies, and determining the overall strength of the evidence.
In conclusion, conducting a systematic search and review of the literature is essential for answering a PICOT question. By following a well-structured strategy, including defining key concepts, selecting appropriate databases, using relevant search terms, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, critically appraising the literature, and synthesizing the findings, researchers can identify the best evidence available to inform clinical practice.