Review of Literature

Instructions

Students will use knowledge acquired in this course to compare and contrast 4 peer-reviewed research articles. Using the PICOT question developed in Assignment 2, the student will be required to evaluate the evidence found in the articles, identifying similarities, differences and overall implications for clinical practice. Students will use the APUS library to search relevant databases to find at least 4 research articles from peer-reviewed sources, no older than 7 years, unless it is a landmark study. Two of these articles must be authored by at least one nurse. Students will then evaluate the evidence found in the articles, identifying similarities, differences, and overall implications for clinical practice. The paper will consist of the following sections:

- Introduction to the problem or issue

-The PICOT question being asked, both in a sentence format and broken down into each element

-A brief discussion of the databases searched, including key words, limiters used, and total number of articles retrieved

-A brief summary of each of the articles and the Level of Evidence rating for each, including the evidence rating scale used (i.e. Level I, Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence Based Practice Scale)

-In-depth discussion of major findings from the literature (EBP summary). This can be organized by article or major themes

-Specific recommendations for clinical practice

-Reference page

The paper will be in APA format, written in third person, and should be 7-10 pages, not including the title and reference pages. An abstract is NOT required.

Please use the following rubric to guide you. This paper will then be used to create a presentation, which can be either a PowerPoint type presentation or a Poster (template attached in week 8 assignment).

P - People with type II diabetes

I - Smartphone application for real-time self-monitoring of blood glucose levels

C - Standard use of care

O - Improvements in glycemic control

T - Three months

My reason for choosing this topic is because my brother is a type II brittle diabetic, and he is always complaining about the discomfort of constantly pricking his fingers. I wanted to research a better way that he could monitor his blood glucose. Diabetes mellitus, particularly type 2 diabetes, is a global health concern that requires continuous monitoring and management. Digital interventions are becoming increasingly popular in healthcare, with mobile phone applications (MPAs) emerging as potential tools for improving diabetes self-management. Two critical studies have shown the effectiveness of MPAs in diabetes management. Yu et al. (2019) evaluated the impact of Diabetes-Carer on glycemic control in patients with diabetes, finding a significant decrease in HbA1c levels at 24 weeks. Factorial analysis suggested that the MPA intervention was the primary influential factor for HbA1c change. Zhai and Yu (2020) conducted a randomized controlled trial in a Chinese community hospital, demonstrating that the mobile app group showed better HbA1c control and improved self-efficacy scores than the control group. This suggests incorporating a mobile app into diabetes care can positively influence therapeutic outcomes and self-management behavior.

Importance of the PICOT Question

Using smartphone applications for real-time self-monitoring in type 2 diabetes management can revolutionize traditional care models. Studies show that using MPAs alone or in combination with SMBG leads to improved glycemic control and decreased HbA1c levels. MPAs empower patients by providing real-time access to blood glucose data, enabling them to participate actively in diabetes management. Digital tools can also improve diabetes self-efficacy, indicating that they can positively influence patients' confidence in managing their condition.

References

Yu, Y., Yan, Q., Li, H., Li, H., Wang, L., Wang, H., Zhang, Y., Xu, L., Tang, Z., Yan, X., Chen, Y., He, H., Chen, J., & Feng, B. (2019). Effects of mobile phone application combined with or without self‐monitoring of blood glucose on glycemic control in patients with diabetes: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Diabetes Investigation, 10(5), 1365–1371. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdi.13031

Zhai, Y., & Yu, W. (2020). A Mobile App for Diabetes Management: Impact on Self-Efficacy Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes at a Community Hospital. Medical Science Monitor, 26. https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.926719