Purpose: The Topic Search Strategy paper is the first of three related assignments. The purpose of this initial paper is to briefly describe your search strategies when identifying two articles that pertain to an evidence-based practice topic of interest.
The PICOT question the research paper will be on:
Effect of Double-Check Protocols on Medication Administration Errors
· P (Population): Registered nurses administering medications in acute care hospitals
· I (Intervention): Implementation of a double-check protocol
· C (Comparison): Single-check or routine protocol
· O (Outcome): Reduction in medication administration errors
· T (Timeframe): Within one year
Full PICOT Question: Among registered nurses administering medications in acute care hospitals, does implementing a double-check protocol, compared to a single-check or routine protocol, reduce the occurrence of medication administration errors within one year ?
GUIDELINES:
a. Paper should be 3-4 content pages in length. Title and reference pages are required but are excluded from 3-4 -page length.
2) The paper will include the following sections:
a. Clinical Question (30 points/25%)
· Describe the problem. What is the focus of your group’s work?
· Explain the significance of the problem in terms of patient outcomes. What health outcomes result from your problem? Or what statistics document this is a problem? You may find support on websites for government or professional organizations.
· PICOT question in support of the group topic.
· State the purpose of your paper. What will your paper do or describe? This is like a problem statement. “The purpose of this paper is to . . .”
b. Levels of Evidence (20 points/16%)
· Identify the type of question being asked (therapy, prognosis, meaning, etc.).
· What is the best type of evidence to answer that question (e.g., RCT, cohort study, qualitative study, etc.)?
c. Search Strategy (50 points/43%)
· List search terms and results.
· Databases used. Link your search with the PICOT question described above.
· Refinement decisions. As you did your search, what decisions did you make in refinement to get your required articles down to a reasonable number for review? Were any limits used? If so, what?
· Identification of two (2) most relevant articles (primary sources published within the last 5 years).
d. Format (20 points/16%)
· Correct grammar and spelling.
· Include a title page.
· Use of headings for each section.
· Clinical Question, Levels of Evidence, Search Strategy, and Conclusion
· Adheres to current APA formatting and guidelines.
· 3-4 pages in length, excluding title and reference pages.