article

*Instructions:

1. Utilize your selected article that answers your PICO questions

2. In the article, identify the following components of the research process.  Highlight, underline or bracket, on the article, each component listed with the corresponding number from this worksheet.  If any component is missing, make a note next to the item on the worksheet.

3. On the worksheet, add the specific page number/s (ie239, 426) where each component is found in the article.  Components may be in more than one place, so search for them.  If any components of the research process are missing, please note this on the sheet under the component, i.e. missing or N/A.

4. Answer the credibility questions for the critical appraisal

Components:

1. Problem statement (what the problem was and why the study was needed) ---

2. Purpose Statement/Purpose or aim of the study -

3. What organization or persons produced the systematic review

4.How many persons were involved in the review

5. How many studies were included in the review

6. What research designs were included in the review

7. Sample size total from all studies (you may have to add them up)

8. Setting; Where did the study take place (list all)

9. Independent and Dependent variables:

Independent variable/s: (Be specific; no page # needed):

Dependent variable/s: (Be specific no page # needed):

10. What tools were utilized to measure the dependent variable (may be multiple)

11. Results-findings; Share enough information/data to clearly state the results; be specific: (themes and codes)

12. Implications for nursing practice from the findings (if available) i.e. how will this data be used? What

education can student nurses/nurses provide patients/families/staff --

Now answer the below critical appraisal questions for your article

Credibility

Was the topic clearly defined?  Yes   No   Not clear

Was the search for studies and other evidence comprehensive and unbiased?  Yes   No   Not clear

Was the screening of citations for inclusion based on explicit criteria?  Yes   No   Not clear

*Were the included studies assessed for quality?  Yes   No   Not clear

Were the design characteristics and findings of the included studies displayed or discussed in sufficient detail?  Yes   No   Not clear

Which conclusions were supported by consistent findings from two or more good or high-quality studies?

Are the CONCLUSIONS credible?  Yes All   Yes Some   No

Clinical Significance

Are the results consistent across studies.  Yes   No   Not clear

Are the conclusions relevant to the care the nurse gives?  Yes   No   Not clear

Are the CONCLUSIONS clinically significant?  Yes All   Yes Some   No

Applicability

Does the SR address a problem, situation, or decision we are addressing in our setting?  Yes   No   Not clear

Are the patients in the studies or a subgroup of patients in the studies similar to those we see?  Yes   No   Not clear

Is what we will have to do to implement the new protocol realistically achievable by us (resources, capability, commitment)?  Yes   No   Not clear

How will we know if our patients are benefiting from our new protocol? Specify

Are these conclusions applicable to our setting?  Yes All   Yes Some   No

Should we proceed to design a protocol INCORPORATING these conclusions?  Yes All   Yes Some   No

Your Comments about the study (must be completed): (strengths and weaknesses)

*Instructions:

1. Utilize your selected article that answers your PICO questions

2. In the article, identify the following components of the research process.  Highlight, underline or bracket, on the article, each component listed with the corresponding number from this worksheet.  If any component is missing, make a note next to the item on the worksheet.

3. On the worksheet, add the specific page number/s (ie239, 426) where each component is found in the article.  Components may be in more than one place, so search for them.  If any components of the research process are missing, please note this on the sheet under the component, i.e. missing or N/A.

Components:

1. Problem statement (what the problem was and why the study was needed) ---

2. Purpose Statement/Purpose or aim of the study -

3. Study design i.e. Descriptive, random control trial, quasi-experimental, case study, ethnography. What

specific research study design was used in the article?

4. Sample population--

5. Sample size --

6. Inclusion Criteria of the participants (who is included in the study) -

7. Exclusion Criteria of participants (who is excluded in the study; this may be vague or assumed)—

8. Setting; Where did the study take place?

9. Independent and Dependent variables:

Independent variable/s: (Be specific; no page # needed):

Dependent variable/s: (Be specific no page # needed):

10. Data collection procedure/s (step by step or process of how data was collected)

11. Measurement tools:

12. Results-findings; Share enough information/data to clearly state the results; be specific:

13. Implications for nursing practice from the findings (if available) i.e. how will this data be used? What

education can student nurses/nurses provide patients/families/staff --

Now answer the below critical appraisal questions for your article

Credibility

Is the study published in a source that required peer review? (Google the title of the journal to determine if journal is peer reviewed.  Yes   No   Not clear

Did the data obtained and the analysis conducted answer the research question?  Yes   No   Not clear

Were the measuring instruments reliable and valid?  Yes   No   Not clear

Were important extraneous variables and bias controlled?  Yes   No   Not clear

If an intervention was tested, answer the following five questions:  Yes   No   Not clear

1. Were participants randomly assigned to groups and were the two groups similar at the start (before the intervention)?  Yes   No   Not clear

2. Were the interventions well defined and consistently delivered?  Yes   No   Not clear

3. Were the groups treated equally other than the difference in interventions?  Yes   No   Not clear

4. If no difference was found, was the sample size large enough to detect a difference if one existed?  Yes   No   Not clear

5. If a difference was found, are you confident it was due to the intervention?  Yes   No   Not clear

Are the findings consistent with findings from other studies?  Yes   Some   No   Not clear

Are the findings credible?  Yes All   Yes Some   No

Clinical Significance

Is the target population clearly described?  Yes   No   Not clear

Is the frequency, association, or treatment effect impressive enough for you to be confident that the finding would make a clinical difference if used as the basis for care? (level of significance p value)  Yes   No   Not clear

Are the findings clinically significant?  Yes All   Yes Some   No

Your Comments about the study (must be completed): (strengths and weaknesses)