PICOT Question: In the acute care setting, what is the effect of a higher nurse to patient ratio on quality of care, compared to a lower nurse to patient ratio?

Instructions for IRR
To complete this project, you will identify a problem using the PICOT format, perform a systematic article search, summarize the articles in a grid, and then writing a summary IRR report.

Problem Identification & Article search: ( 5 articles needed)

· Identify problem-using PICOT format to formulate research question (the IRR Resources folder has more information on PICOT questions).

· Establish pre-defined eligibility criteria for your article searches.

· Perform a systematic search that attempts to identify all studies that would meet eligibility criteria

· Appraise the studies to select only those that are relevant and not biased

· Extract information, analyze it, and synthesize the findings of the studies as a body of evidence

· Create a findings table that organizes key information from each article (examples are in the IRR resources content folder)

IRR Report

· Open with stating the issue and why it is important, include your PICOT question in correct format

· Describe the process used to search for the articles in detail include databases searched, key terms used and inclusion/exclusion criteria used. Also include the process used to extract information from the reports and the methods used to evaluate the quality of the studies

Summarize each article individually including the type of study, a brief critique of the study, summary of the findings as related to your PICOT question

· Discuss findings that are consistent, conflicting, and equivocal as well as gaps in the research base and bottom line conclusions are stated.

· Finally state how the conclusions relate to any prior work that has been done on the topic, summarize the limitations of the body of research and offer opinions regarding the clinical implications of your conclusions.

Include at the end of your report (After your Reference Page) your “Findings Table” that profiles the studies and findings to provide a quick overview of the methods and results of the studies. This is simply a table that lists the following information for each individual research article: Author, Title of Article, Type of Study (Qualitative, Quantitative, etc), Number of Participants, Independent/Dependent variable, Study Findings, Brief Critique of strengths/weaknesses of study, level of evidence.

General instructions:

· 5 articles to support question ( will be in table format in appendix of your paper)

· Paper is to be written using APA format (6th edition)

· Submit paper electronically-must have Microsoft Office 2010 or higher

· Length 7 pages excluding title page and reference page and Literature Table- Each research study should have a brief summary within the paper as noted above. Use Headings for Required sections within the paper.

Date: End of Week 6 at 11:59 PM

*The “Findings Table”/Literature Summary Table can be included at the very end of the paper just after the reference page

Item
Rubric
NRSOL 336 : Research and Nursing Practice

Integrated Research Review Rubric

Criteria

Description

Points Possible

Points Awarded

Comments

Article Selection

(5 articles)

Step 1: Scope

Identify topic, issue or problem (Include your PICOT question

Consider types of studies to be included in review

Determine date range for studies

Step 2: Search

All relevant articles are retrieved using pre-specified set of inclusion criteria

Search for studies using computerized data bases, reference lists or web search engines

Step 3: Sorting

Determine if articles address problem/topic

Sort by subtopics-i.e. similar interventions, similar populations, evaluation of particular outcomes

Step 4: Analyze Findings

Extract basic information about design, sample, variables results

Identify differences, commonalities & patterns across the studies

Similarities and differences in results and findings are identified & reasons for differences explored. The goal of analysis is to reach conclusions that represent the findings of the individual studies as a body of findings, which is different from looking at each study in isolation from the others. This is synthesis because new knowledge claims are produced

30

IRR Report

(7 pages)

Step 1: Introduction

Introduction-state the issue and why you thought it was important. What was the focus of your review (certain population, setting, outcomes, etc)?

Step 2: Methods

Describe in detail the process that was used to search for study reports including data bases searched, key terms used, inclusion & exclusion criteria used.

Describe the process used to extract information from the reports and methods used to evaluate the quality of the studies

Step 3: Results

Report findings of result tables developed for your review

Step 4: Discussion & Conclusion

Indicate whether & how your conclusion support any prior summarization work that has been done on the topic, summarize the limitations of the body of research, and offer opinions regarding the ramifications of the conclusion.

30

Organization, style, editing, grammar spelling, mechanics, APA format

Title page, abstract, parenthetical documentation, references in APA format, proper grammar, spelling and sentence structure, formal style, introduction, conclusion, logical progression of ideas, skillful transitions

15

Depth, Breadth, Clarity & Logical Flow

Demonstrate attributes of critical thinking

25

Content Folder
IRR Resources