DB4: Critical Appraisal's Role in Evidence-Based Healthcare

This discussion board post emphasizes the importance of critical appraisal in processing qualitative research evidence, highlighting its role in gathering 'why' and 'how' information for better understanding and application to patient care. It discusses how critical appraisal helps in determining the precision and applicability of research results, addressing potential distortions in interventions due to design or analysis flaws. The post also underscores the significance of critical appraisal in distinguishing credible evidence from opinions and assumptions, reducing information overload, and assessing the clinical applicability of studies. Furthermore, it touches on the use of meta-synthesis in qualitative research to balance objectivity and researcher subjectivity. Referencing Ephesians 5:15, the post advocates for diligence in decision-making, cautioning against blindly trusting information without critically evaluating its strength. Desklib provides a platform for students to access similar solved assignments and study resources.

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DB4 Response: Arrie Alexander
Name
Institution

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DB4 Response: Arrie Alexander
It is true that when processing qualitative research-based evidence, the process of critical
appraisal will assist with gathering all of the “why” information needed for a better
understanding. However, it also responds to the questions how. Thompson (2017) argues that
critical appraisal responds to how precise the results are as well as how they are applicable to
individual patients. Systematic distortion of estimated interventions can affect the
trustworthiness and can also be as a result of inadequacies in the design, analysis of the trial and
the conduct.
Besides helping researchers in making decisions, critical appraisals also helps in
distinguishing what is of great significance from what is not. Critical appraisal achieves this by
separating evidence from opinions, assumptions, beliefs and misreporting, reducing information
overload by eliminating irrelevant or weak studies as well as assessing the usefulness and clinical
applicability of a given study. The use of meta-synthesis in qualitative research also helps in
offering an appropriate balance between an objective framework, a rigorously scientific approach
to data analysis as well as the necessary contribution of the subjectivity of the researcher in the
final work. Although critical appraisal tools are used to help the researcher identify whether the
selected clinical research papers are suitable, they are also used to ensure patient centered care,
safety and quality improvement (Melnyk, & Gallagher‐Ford, 2015).
According to the book of Ephesians 5: 15, “therefore be careful how you walk, not as
unwise but as wise” warns us to be diligent and not rush into making decisions without thinking
of its implications and effects. Similarly, critical appraisal warns us not to trust everything we

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read without being able to consider the most important aspects of the strength of evidence when
conducting research.

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References
Bible, K.J., 2015, January. King James Bible Online. Web.
Melnyk, B. M., & Gallagher‐Ford, L. (2015). Implementing the New Essential Evidence‐Based
Practice Competencies in Real‐world Clinical and Academic Settings: Moving From
Evidence to Action in Improving Healthcare Quality and Patient Outcomes. Worldviews
on Evidence‐Based Nursing, 12(2), 67-69. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12089
Thompson, K, C. (2017). What Does “Critical Appraisal” Mean in Evidence-Based Practice?:
Nursing Education Expert