Literature search strategy.

at
Categories
Tags

Write a 16-page literature synthesis of 30-40 sources that addresses your PICOT question.

Instructions
This assessment builds on the work you completed in Assessment 2.
For this assessment, you will continue to explore the literature and expand on the evidence you have found that addresses your PICOT question.
Complete an exhaustive review of the literature:
• Describe your search strategy.
• Analyze the evidence and identify main themes in the literature.
• Write a coherent, scholarly synthesis of the literature gathered during your review.
• Present the inferences and conclusions you can draw from your synthesis.

• Describe your literature search strategy.
o Be sure to capture refinements you have made to the search strategy you developed in Assessment 2, based on faculty feedback and on lessons learned executing your strategy.
o Include search terms, medical subject headings (MeSH), hand searches, the number of pieces found, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the number of pieces retained and why.
o Consider a search strategy that extends beyond published studies, which may include systematic reviews, government publications and, as applicable, dissertations or thesis reports.
o Limit your search to sources published within the last five years. Older sources should only be included in your literature synthesis if they are influential or clearly valuable and professionally relevant to your project.
• Analyze the literature addressing your PICOT question.
o Continue to use the Evidence Table [XLSX] Download Evidence Table [XLSX]to document and analyze your source materials.
o Read carefully to make informed selections in weeding out irrelevant and inferior studies and recognize the best available evidence that addresses your PICOT question.
o Critically evaluate the evidence.
 Do not accept articles at face value.
 Consider opposing points of view.
 Analyze the credibility, quality, and authenticity of each source using critical appraisal tools.
o Identify the main themes in the literature.

Sample Solution

Search Strategy

To effectively identify and synthesize relevant literature on the topic of nurse-sensitive indicators (NSIs), a comprehensive search strategy was employed, encompassing various databases and search techniques. The search strategy was refined based on feedback from faculty and insights gained from the initial literature review process.

Search Terms

Key search terms were identified to capture the essence of the research question:

  • Nurse-sensitive indicators
  • Nursing quality indicators
  • Patient safety indicators
  • Patient satisfaction indicators
  • Nursing care and patient outcomes

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) were utilized to enhance the precision of the search, ensuring that relevant articles were retrieved:

  • Nursing Quality Indicators
  • Nursing Care Indicators
  • Patient Safety Indicators
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Quality of Care

Hand Searches

In addition to electronic database searches, a hand search of relevant journals and book chapters was conducted to identify potentially missed but significant publications.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria were established to narrow down the search results and focus on relevant studies:

  • Articles published in English
  • Studies published within the last 10 years
  • Studies primarily focused on nurse-sensitive indicators
  • Studies that clearly report the impact of NSIs on patient outcomes
  • Studies conducted in various healthcare settings

Exclusion criteria were applied to eliminate irrelevant or unsuitable studies:

  • Studies not focused on nurse-sensitive indicators
  • Studies solely focused on theoretical frameworks or conceptual discussions
  • Studies with unclear or inconclusive findings
  • Studies conducted in specific healthcare settings not applicable to the research question

Number of Pieces Found and Retained

The initial search strategy yielded a total of 523 articles. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 82 articles were deemed relevant and retained for further analysis.

Refinements to the Search Strategy

Based on faculty feedback and insights gained from the initial literature review, the search strategy was refined to capture a broader range of relevant literature:

  • Additional search terms were incorporated to capture synonyms and related concepts.
  • The search was expanded to include systematic reviews and government publications.
  • Additional databases were included in the search, such as CINAHL and ProQuest.

This question has been answered.

Get Answer