Evidence-Based Poste

Running head: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE 1

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE 2

Evidence-Based Practice: Level and Quality of Research Article

Evidence-Based Practice: Level and Quality of Research Article

The article selected was Epidural Steroid Injection Therapy for Low Back Pain: a meta-analysis by Choi, Hahn, Kim, Jang, Park, Lee, Chung, and Park (2013). The article aimed at systematically assessing the long-term advantages of injections of epidural steroid for low-back pain patients. The article is a Level I article because it is an experimental study with randomized control trials. The article also embodies explanatory mixed method designs that contain only Level I quantitative study. The article includes systematic reviews of Randomized Controlled Trials with meta-analysis, which is characteristic of Level I articles.

The article is a high quality article. This is because it conveys its formation in a greatly structured manner. It’s title succinctly reflects the content of the study and it provides five important keywords used in the study. The article also gives a clear background of information about the study as well as the aims of the study. The gap in literature is well conveyed which justifies the need for the study. The article is consistent and the materials and methods used in the study are clearly defined. The information provided is specified and it clearly demonstrates how the study is planning on achieving its aims. This is one of the most important characteristics of a high quality article according to Guyatt et al. (2018).

Additionally, the article is high quality because it uses sufficient sample size for the study design and provides generalizable results (John Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice, 2017). The results are well-analyzed and presented in a manner that any average reader would comprehend. The discussion provided in the article shows insights into the meaning and importance of the research findings. The article offers definitive conclusions which are clearly stated and can be validated by the study. The article also uses comprehensive literature review to provide its recommendations which makes them consistent. All these characteristics justify the article as high quality.

References

Choi, H. J., Hahn, S., Kim, C. H., Jang, B. H., Park, S., Lee, S. M., ... & Park, B. J. (2013). Epidural steroid injection therapy for low back pain: a meta-analysis. International journal of technology assessment in health care, 29(3), 244-253.

Guyatt, G. H., Oxman, A. D., Vist, G. E., Kunz, R., Falck-Ytter, Y., Alonso-Coello, P., & Schünemann, H. J. (2018). GRADE: an emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. Bmj, 336(7650), 924-926.

John Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice. (2017). Appendix D: Evidence Level and Quality Guide. John Hopkins University School of Nursing.