Name
Chamberlain University
NR-505: Advanced Research Methods: Evidence-Based Practice
Prof. Name
Date
My MSN specialty tract is Nurse Executive, and as a nurse leader, my role involves equipping healthcare teams with the skills and resources required to deliver safe, evidence-based, and high-quality patient care. One persistent healthcare concern that I chose to address in my PICOT question is the global influenza epidemic. Influenza continues to place a significant burden on vulnerable populations worldwide, despite the availability of vaccines.
Although annual flu vaccines are widely accessible, many individuals decline vaccination for themselves or their loved ones. This hesitancy contributes to high rates of infection, morbidity, and mortality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2022), nearly 41 million flu cases occur annually in the United States, resulting in approximately 140,000 hospitalizations and more than 120,000 deaths. These figures highlight the ongoing threat of influenza, especially among at-risk groups such as children, pregnant women, and adults with chronic illnesses.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) studies demonstrate that widespread vaccination significantly reduces the spread and severity of influenza outbreaks (Godoy et al., 2018). Vaccination serves as a protective barrier for high-risk groups, lessening the potential for premature deaths and reducing healthcare system strain.
Nurses are consistently ranked as one of the most trusted healthcare professionals, largely due to their continuous interaction with patients. This trust places them in a unique position to advocate for public health interventions such as vaccination campaigns. Nurses are directly involved in educating patients, raising awareness, and administering vaccines—making them key players in influenza prevention strategies (Keske et al., 2020).
Furthermore, nurses contribute to vaccine management by ensuring proper storage, handling, and safe administration. Their responsibilities extend beyond administration to include post-vaccination follow-ups, identification of adverse reactions, and collaboration with other healthcare professionals to address patient concerns.
Nursing communication also plays a pivotal role in combating vaccine hesitancy. When nurses explain the importance, safety, and effectiveness of influenza vaccines, patients are more likely to make informed decisions. By fostering public trust and providing accurate information, nurses help overcome barriers to vaccination and encourage higher uptake.
Increasing the rate of influenza vaccinations is not only vital for protecting vulnerable populations but also aligns with broader nursing goals: improving community health, reducing unnecessary suffering, and enhancing patient outcomes.Discussion of the PICOT Elements
The PICOT framework provides a structured method for examining the practice issue:
| PICOT Element | Description |
|---|---|
| P (Population) | Young adults between the ages of 18–30 years who remain unvaccinated. This group contributes to increased risk for vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and older adults with comorbidities. |
| I (Intervention) | Increasing vaccination rates through the administration of the influenza vaccine. |
| C (Comparison) | Comparing the morbidity rates of the vaccinated population versus those who remain unvaccinated during peak influenza season. |
| O (Outcome) | Measuring rates of influenza infection among vaccinated versus unvaccinated individuals aged 18–30 years. The outcome will demonstrate the effectiveness of vaccination in reducing flu morbidity. |
| T (Timeframe) | The study will span 6–8 weeks, covering the peak flu season. Non-probability sampling will be used to select participants. |
In young adults aged 18–30 years, will receiving the influenza vaccine, compared to those who remain unvaccinated, result in lower morbidity rates during the peak flu season when guided and cared for by nurses?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Disease burden of flu. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html
Godoy, P., Romero, A., Soldevila, N., Torner, N., Jané, M., Martínez, A., … & Domínguez, A. (2018). Influenza vaccine effectiveness in reducing severe outcomes over six influenza seasons, a case-case analysis, Spain, 2010/11 to 2015/16. Eurosurveillance, 23(43), 1700732. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.43.1700732
Keske, Ş., Mutters, N. T., Tsioutis, C., & Ergönül, Ö. (2020). Influenza vaccination among infection control teams: A EUCIC survey prior to COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine, 38(52), 8357-8361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.11.003
Roberts, D. (2018). Influenza vaccines: How effective are they? Evidently Cochrane. https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/influenza-vaccines-how-effective-are-they/
