Evidence Based Nursing Research Assessment Template

This submission template for Evidence Based Nursing Research Assessment helps in developing a focused question and acquiring relevant evidence. It includes a systematic search strategy worksheet and an appraisal tool for randomized controlled trials.

EVIDENCE BASED NURSING RESEARCH 1
EVIDENCE BASED NURSING RESEARCH
Student Name
Institution Affiliation
Facilitator
Course
Date
92318 Evidence for Nursing Assessment 3 Submission Template 1

EVIDENCE BASED NURSING RESEARCH 2
ASSESSMENT Item Three: SUBMISSION TEMPLATE Weight: 50% of the overall mark
Due date: 11: 59 pm, Sunday 27 January 2019, through Turnitin. No paper submission is required.
Please complete the following the activities by filling in the spaces below. This is a word document so
you can add space as needed.
This assessment builds on your assessment one. Read and follow the template carefully.
Part 2.1 of the Assessment 3 template is the work you undertook in Assessment 1 (with any
improvements suggested in the feedback you received).
PART 1: PARTICIPATES IN THE FIRST AND THE SECOND ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUMS (4
marks).
PART 2.1: DEVELOPING A FOCUSED QUESTION AND ACQUIRING RELEVANT EVIDENCE (3
marks).
1. Use the following categories to help define your problem and what you are looking at in simple terms
PICO: Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome.
(Remember to use your readings to help you if you are unsure)
Patient/Problem: Children
Intervention: Zinc Lozenges
Comparison: ______
Outcome: Cold symptom
2. Now use these terms from the question above to create your PICO research question so that you have a
clear purpose for your search:
In (P) Children does (I) Zinc Lozenges compared with (C) No Zinc Lozenges reduce (O) Cold Symptoms?
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3. What type of clinical question do you think this PICO answers?
*□ Therapeutic □ Aetiology □ Diagnostic □ Prevention □ Prognosis □ Others
4. The table below will help you to think of the other terms that you might also like to look up when
searching for evidence to help you answer your question – this is part of basic planning for a research
search.
 We ask you to look up alternative terms because sometimes articles from different countries and
health systems call things different names – for example, in Australia we sometimes use the term
‘community nurses’, but in the UK they often talk about ‘district nurses’ – if you only searched
under ‘district nurse’ you’d miss all the articles which happened to a different term – you would be
missing some of the pictures!
Population Intervention Comparison
(not commonly used in
actual database search
strategy)
Outcome
(not commonly used in
actual database search
strategy)
What is your population?
Main search term:
Children
What other terms might
have been used?
Alternative search
terms:
What is your
intervention? Main
search term:
Zinc Lozenges
What other terms might
have been used?
Alternative search
What is your
comparison? Main
search term:
What other terms might
have been used?
Alternative search
What is your outcome?
Main search term:
Cold Symptoms
What other terms might
have been used?
Alternative search
terms:
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Minor
Paediatric
terms:
Zinc
Zinc Syrup
terms:
Flue
Common viral infection
A runny nose
5. Is there a particular group of people that you want to look at? List here any inclusion criteria you might
use to refine your search if you have too many papers:
Gender: all type Age Range: 0-18
Publication Dates: ______________________ Language: ____________________________
6. What kind of study do you think would best answer your question? Select here which type of article you
might want to access. You can also use these to refine your search if you have a lot of papers.
*□ Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
□ Cohort Study
□ Qualitative Study
□ Economic Evaluation
□ Case-control Study/Case Series
Systematic Search Strategy Worksheet
7. Now that you have decided on WHAT you will be searching, you need to put down a plan of HOW you
will search for your articles. This helps you and others to see how you got your evidence and how you made
sure you got the best evidence to help you decide on your clinical action.
 Using the PICO terms in your table, enter each term in a row (group them together under the PICO
categories).
 The next step is to combine similar terms using ‘OR’ .
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 The final step is to use ‘AND’ to combine your searches for different PICO elements.
Key terms:
1 Children
2 Minor
3 Paediatric
4 1 OR 2 OR 3
5 Zinc Lozenges
6 Zinc
7 Zinc Syrup
8 5 OR 6 OR 7
9 Cold Symptom
1
0
Common Cold
1
1
Flu
1
2
1
3
1
4
Common Viral Infection
A runny nose
Rhinorrhea
1
5
_9_ OR_10__OR_11__OR_12__OR 13 OR 14 (combine alternate terms for same topic)
1
6
1
_4___AND__8__AND _15
Limit 16 to (“all child (0 to 18 years)” and English and last 10 years)
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7
OR = combine alternate terms for the same topic – to get as many potential papers as possible!
AND = combine the groups of topics to get papers which cover ALL the terms!
PART 2.2: EVIDENCE OF APPLICATION OF SEARCH STRATEGY (PLAN) IN DATABASE
SEARCHES (3 marks)
Enter your planned search into two different databases of your choice (such as Medline and CINHAL) using
the skills you have learned in the library session, online library videos, and library workshops.
8. Place the screenshots/screengrabs/digital pictures of your two (2) database searchers here. Please
ensure your screenshots provide all steps of your search (see the example in Assessment one templet) and
are clear enough to be legible – these must be READABLE!!
Database search 1
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Add space as needed
Database search 2
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Add space as needed
9. Select a randomized controlled trial that can help you answer your PICO question and place the
abstract here. Please add this as a screenshot, do not retype this yourself. (The abstract must be readable)
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10. Choose a qualitative study that is relevant to your PICO from the list of provided articles in
Assessment 3 folder and places the abstract here. It is ok if your qualitative study does not exactly match
your PICO, but it should be relevant. Please add this as a screenshot, do not retype this yourself. (The
abstracts must be readable).
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PART 3.1 APPRAISAL OF YOUR RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL (Please consider the word
limit for each question, 13 marks )
Assessing the quality of the available evidence has also been a key focus this semester. Use the CASP tool
for RCTs below to appraise the quality of your selected RCT.
Section A: Are the results of the trial valid?
Screening Questions
1. Did the trial address a clearly focused issue?
√Yes No Can’t tell
Justify your answer: (Max 50 words)
The trial is clearly focused because of several reasons. First of all, in consideration to the population
which will take place in this trial (children), it is a population which mostly affected by this problem of cold
symptoms and hence the research carry is expected to bear positive results. In consideration of the
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Randomised Controlled Trial
Appraisal Tool

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intervention which has been proposed (Zinc Lozenges), this is a remedy under research and hence the
researcher will easily access supportive materials for the research.
2. Was the assignment of patients to treatments randomized? (Max 50 Words)
√Yes No Can’t tell
Justify your answer:
To obtain the sample of the children to participate in the trial, no specific procedure was used to
gather them from the large population (children in several regions). Instead, the sample size was picked just
randomly from the entire population. Also, there was no allocation sequence followed and that meant that all
children stood an equal chance of being selected.
3. Were all of the patients who entered the trial properly accounted for at its conclusion? (Max 50
words)
√Yes No Can’t tell
Justify your answer:
Generally, all the children who entered the trial process were properly accounted for at its conclusion
because of two reasons. First, the trial was given enough time to ensure that it has been administered to all
the selected children in the trial in an equal measure. Secondly, all the children in the trial were fully
analyzed within the scope of groups to which they had been randomized.
4. Were patients, health workers, and study personnel ‘blind’ to treatment? (Max 50 words)
Yes √No Can’t tell
Justify your answer:
The RCT was undertaken in an open manner where most of the children had a hint of the Zinc
Lozenges. In consideration to the health workers, although the case study has presented them to be a little bit
unfamiliar with the Zinc Lozenges treatment, it does not completely present them as unfamiliar. That’s an
indication that the trial proceeded in an open manner because both parties had hint on the Zinc Lozenges
treatment before engaging in the RCT.
5. Were the groups similar at the start of the trial? (Max 50 words)
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√Yes No Can’t tell
Justify your answer:
Before the random selection from the population, the children were balanced in consideration to their
age, gender, and social class. Through this grouping, the random selection strictly saw the sample obtained
consist of children of balanced age, gender, and social class. This played a major role in ensuring that the
results of this trial were free from any kind of bias.
6. Aside from the experimental intervention were the groups treated equally? (Max 50 words)
√Yes No Can’t tell
Justify your answer:
The resultant groups obtained after the randomization process were treated equally in all the
preceding aspects of the trial. For instance, the questions which were administered on the first group of
children were repeated all through the rest of the groups, the response duration allowed on the first group
was also allowed on all the other groups and finally, any interpretation required was administered to all the
groups equally to ensure that all understood the questions.
Section B: What are the results?
7. How large was the treatment effect? (Max 150 words)
Justify your answer:
The treatment effect as a result of this intervention was considerably large because of several
reasons. First, most of the children suffering from cold symptoms usually suffer a lot because this is among
the diseases which are rarely taken seriously by most people. With Zinc Lozenges treatment approach,
however, most of the victims of cold symptoms will be able to get cure easily instead of suffering until the
symptoms disappear on their own. On the comparative factor, the proposed intervention has a profound
difference with the initial approach and hence the effectiveness of the proposed intervention can be easily
built from the weaknesses of the past approach. Finally, when the proposed intervention (Zinc Lozenges) is
compared with the traditional methods used (staying hydrated & soothing the skin), it’s beyond any
reasonable doubt that the intervention will impact cold treatment in children positively.
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8. How precise was the estimate of the treatment effect? (Max 100 words)
Justify your answer:
The treatment effect estimates were high because the usage of Zinc Lozenges was simple and
straightforward. In addition, considering the fact that Zinc Lozenges could cure children without necessary
being taken to clinics, this gave the children confidence that the intervention would be effective. However,
low-class patients raised the issue of medicine affordability and which was responded by a suggestion that
the hospitals would be giving out those tablets in whenever a child is diagnosed with cold symptoms. Also,
when the proposed intervention (Zinc Lozenges) is compared with the traditional methods used (staying
hydrated & soothing the skin), it’s beyond any reasonable doubt that the intervention will impact cold
treatment in children positively
Section C: Will the results help locally?
9. Can the results be applied in your context? (or to the local population?) (Max 100 words)
√Yes No Can’t tell
Justify your answer:
The results can be applied comfortably within my context because the children used in the trial are
just like the normal children to whom I will apply the intervention. The level of illiteracy needed in order to
administer the remedy while at home is also not that high and parents will be able to administer the medicine
easily just like it was the case in the trial session. In addition, considering the fact that Zinc Lozenges could
cure children without necessary being taken to clinics, this gave the children confidence that the intervention
would be effective
10. Were all clinically important outcomes considered? (Max 50 words)
√Yes No Can’t tell
Justify your answer:
Most of the clinically important outcomes were put into consideration. For instance, the affordability
factor across different class of citizens was the main concern and which was countered by the proposal that
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hospitals or clinics would be distributing those doses freely. Also, the issue of taking the medicine at home
was a major concern and which was countered by the proposal that the administration of this medicine was
simple and parents could be briefed before being given the doses.
11. Are the benefits worth the harms and costs? √Yes Can’t tell No (Max 100 words)
Justify your answer:
Without any reasonable doubt, the benefits of the proposed intervention are worth the expected costs
and harms. First of all, traveling or moving to clinics for regular treatment costs the parents in terms of
money spent and risks the lives of their children because of their critical conditions. Secondly, cold
symptom children are prone to health emergencies which require fast respond and the absence of a quick
remedy to counter their condition may worsen their situation. Putting these two factors into consideration
and the fact that Zinc Lozenges will alleviate both, the benefits of this remedy clearly comes out.
PART 3.2 APPRAISAL OF YOUR QUALITATIVE ARTICLE (please consider the word limit for each
question, 10 marks )
Use the CASP Appraisal for Qualitative Research below to decide whether the information presented in
your paper is trustworthy and truly reflective of the participant’s voice.
SCREENING QUESTIONS
1. Was there a clear statement of the aims? ☒Yes ☐ Can’t tell ☐ No
The aim of this study was clear; it aimed at seeking an alternative to cold symptoms specifically for
young children. The study was important because it would help alleviate the suffering and risks taken by
parents with children facing cold symptoms from time to time in their attempts to get them treated.
2. Is a qualitative methodology appropriate? ☒Yes ☐ Can’t tell ☐ No
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The qualitative methodology will be appropriate for this research because it will aid in uncovering
the trends in the opinions and thoughts of the sample population before the researcher can dive deeper into
the research question. This will help in determining the best approaches to come up with a desirable
outcome.
3. Was the research design appropriate to address the aims of the research? ☒Yes ☐ Can’t tell ☐ No
This research adopted a descriptive design where it combined case studies with naturalistic
observations and surveys. The choice of this design was highly significant in realizing the results to address
the aim of the research. For instance, through the case study approach, the researcher was able to reveal the
importance of the interventions on the basis of the evidence from other patients.
4. Was the recruitment strategy appropriate to the aims of the research? ☒Yes ☐ Can’t tell ☐ No
The recruitment strategy was in line with the aims of the research in various ways. First of all, the
research aim had not been aligned in favor of any gender, age group or social class and that was taken care
by considering children from the two genders, distributed age groups and also social classes. In regard to
natural observations, the researcher was able to identify the gap between the traditional approach and the
new remedy. Lastly, through surveys, the research was able to extract customer reactions with regard to the
proposed intervention
5. Was the data collected in a way that addressed the research issue? ☒Yes ☐ Can’t tell ☐ No
The data collected fully addressed the research issue. This is in consideration of the fact that the
researcher did not limit himself in a single data collection approach but used a combined approach in order
to fully exploit the participants and obtain adequate data. For instance, through the case study approach, the
researcher was able to reveal the importance of the intervention on the basis of the evidence from other
patients. In regard to natural observations, the researcher was able to identify the gap between the traditional
approach and the new remedy.
6. Has the relationship between researcher and participants been adequately considered ☒Yes ☐
Can’t tell ☐ No
From the presented evidence, a critical examination of the role of the researcher as well as his
influence during the question formulation of research questions has not been clearly presented. How the
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researcher responded to different events during the course of the study has also not been revealed in a
manner that they can be judged.
7. Have ethical issues been taken into consideration? ☒Yes ☐ Can’t tell ☐ No
As a form of research which mainly proceeded in a manner that mainly involved interactions with
patient’s information, maintaining privacy and confidentiality of the patient information was highly
emphasized as the research progressed. Lastly, through surveys, the research was able to extract customer
reactions with regard to the proposed intervention with an assurance that the information won’t be revealed
to any third party.
8. Was the data analysis sufficiently rigorous? ☒Yes ☐ Can’t tell ☐ No
Data analysis in this research was done sufficiently rigorous; this is in consideration of several
factors. First of all, the researcher has described his analysis processes in an in-depth manner enabling the
readers to draw the relationship between various data collected in the course of the study. This also enabled
the readers to see the logic in the results realized. Data was also presented with all the supportive findings
together and that simplified the understanding of the end results. Finally, the comparison between the
proposed intervention (Zinc Lozenges) and the traditional methods used (staying hydrated & soothing the
skin), has been analysed fully leading to conclusions with sufficient evidence.
9. Is there a clear statement of findings? ☒Yes ☐ Can’t tell ☐ No
The statement of findings as presented in the findings is very clear. It has presented all its findings
attached to their respective supportive data and all the arguments both against and in support with them.
Evidence has also been attached to all the findings made from the research. The findings have also been
discussed in line with the original research question. Finally, when the proposed intervention (Zinc
Lozenges) is compared with the traditional methods used (staying hydrated & soothing the skin), it’s beyond
any reasonable doubt that the intervention will impact cold treatment in children positively
10. How valuable is the research?
The research is highly valuable due to various reasons. Firstly, it has clearly addressed the
contribution and the impacts of Zinc Lozenges remedy in alleviating suffering and risks which have been
rampant using the traditional approaches. This research has also explained how its findings will be
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transferred to other populations and how it will be useful for its implementation. In regard to how the quality
of the research, all the children who entered the trial process were properly accounted for at its conclusion in
consideration to the fact that the trial was given enough time to ensure that it has been administered to all the
selected children in the trial in an equal measure
PART 4 OVERALL SUMMARY
PART 4.1 PROVIDE AN OVERALL SUMMARY OF WHAT THESE TWO PAPERS CONTRIBUTE
TO ANSWERING YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION (400 words, 10 marks).
My original clinical question was “How effective is Zinc Lozenges dose compared with No Zinc
Lozenges in reducing Cold Symptoms in children”. The two papers have contributed to answering my
research question in different ways. The first article, for instance, has tackled all the aspects of Zinc
Lozenges remedy right from how it should be handled to how it works (Cedraschi et al, 2013, p.15).
Considering the fact that my research question has its basis on the implementation of Zinc Lozenges remedy
to replace the traditional way of treating common cold in children, the knowledge gained from this study
will contribute in my research question through the provision of insights to be used in educating the
participants on the effectiveness of this remedy. It also helps in answering some of the questions which may
arise from the patients. In addition to that, this article has provided an evidence-based revelation on how
effective this remedy can be as far as the health sector is concerned (Cedraschi et al, 2013, p.10). Through
these and other details which have been covered in this article, my major concerns in explaining how the
remedy will be useful in treating common cold symptoms without necessarily visiting the clinic have been
fully addressed and support to my arguments obtained. Corrections in some of the points which I had gotten
wrong have also been criticized and hence prompting for re-adjustments (Cedraschi et al, 2013, p.13).
In the second article, and whose main concern was to clarify the effectiveness of Zinc Lozenges in
treating common cold among young children, it emphasized some of the concerns raised under my research
question. For instance, the article has addressed the emerging concern in relation to Zinc Lozenges remedy.
It has revealed how this remedy would enable parents would respond to common cold when their children
are severely under those symptoms without necessarily having to be rushed to the hospital which may take a
lot of time leading to worsening of the condition. When framed in the context of my research question, this
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article has contributed to explaining the importance of this remedy for common cold victims, a disease
which has been taken lightly but causing a lot of suffering to young children (Cedraschi et al, 2013, p.9). In
addition to that, this article has expounded on the safety of this remedy as compared to other remedies. This
has also added on my research which had briefly touched on the safety of the remedy in comparison with
others which have been used before.
PART 4.2 SYNTHESISING THE EVIDENCE (300 words, 7 marks).
Common cold symptoms can be classified under chronic illness and therefore requires quick
responses whenever they occur. Considering the fact that not all parents can afford to have personal doctors
for their children, children with these conditions tend to highly suffer because the severity of the disease
may not be understood easily especially if a child is very young. This has led to the loss of many young lives
in the course of traveling up to the hospital after the conditions become severe. These deaths can, however,
be minimized through the Zinc Lozenges remedy which will slow down the severity of the situation before
they can be rushed to the nearby clinics or hospitals.
Through this remedy, parents with children under cold symptoms can cool down the severity of the
illness before they can rush the children to the clinics physically and that will mitigate the risks associated
with traveling under such conditions. In consideration to emergency responses, this remedy enables parents
to attend to their young ones before they can rush them to the nearby clinics and hence avoiding the scenario
where a child is left under a lot of suffering before he or she can reach the hospital. For that matter, this
remedy will evidently minimize the deaths of young children which result from the inadequate attention
before the children can get the attention of doctors because it will sustain them until the moment they get
into the hands of the doctors for treatment. In addition to that, this article has expounded on the safety of this
remedy as compared to the non-zinc Lozenges remedies. This has also added on my research which had
briefly touched on the safety of this remedy.
References
Cedraschi, C., Saya, L., Klein, P., Bordet, M.F. and Carrat, F., 2013. Representations of influenza and
influenza-like illness in the community-a qualitative study. BMC family practice, 14(1), p.15.
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