DQ: Explain how the criteria on this table helps you evaluate the quality of a primary quantitative research article to determine if it will support a practice improvement project (DPI Project)
Research is one of the efforts used to continue to promote the excellence of science and in practicing science. Some experts came together and have created guidelines for research publications, systematic reviews, and quality improvement projects. One of such groups is called Enhancing the quality and Transparency of Health Research Network (EQUATOR) (Melnyk, & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). This group provides a repository and clearing for using guidelines when reporting. It improves and maintains the reliability of any published health care research work and provides the transparency and accuracy or reporting information and encouraging a wider use of the guidelines which helps to show the strength of the evidence (Melnyk, & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). Literature review studies are very essential for any research work. It helps to present a total picture or scope of ideas of topics, methods, theories and synthesis of previous studies to increase knowledge and gives insight on how to develop studies (Melnyk, & Fineout-Overholt, 2018), (Loura, Bernardes, Baixinho, Henriques, Félix, & Guerreiro, 2022). Literature review helps researchers to search out relevant articles, retrieve and review them, analyze and integrate all the information from all the studies to present new information to implement in nursing knowledge and practice. Also, literature review of various studies helps with increased knowledge of effective decision making for clinical practices (Mohammadreza, Nasrullah, Najmeh, & Abdulghani, 2021). In recent times, literature reviews are regarded as a research method which follows a specific method or guidelines for conducting research that every researcher follows. It increases knowledge in any field when analyzing and critiquing materials which is different when compared to the previous traditional methods that were ad hoc, did not follow particular methods and often times were not thorough and lacked rigor and often generated questions about the validity and reliability of the research (Snyder, (2019).
There are different reasons for a literature review. One of such reasons is for the researcher to evaluate certain theories or evidence in a particular field. It can also be used to provide and overview of a research problem and identify the gaps in knowledge. It can also be used to develop theories, of building new conceptual theories or when used as a road map to research in a specific field. (Snyder, (2019). Therefore, researchers need to be able to critically evaluate reports to make sure the results are valid, reliable and applicable to nursing practice and hence replicable across board. Where scientific methods followed to maintain the validity of the research. This must be established before the results can be looked at. Qualitative research involves the use of statistical methods to analyze the research by determining the size of the research. Did it involve all aspects of a whole population or just some groups? The total number of sample size reported should equal the number of participants in the study to avoid attrition (Melnyk, & Fineout-Overholt, 2018).
The strength (i.e., level of evidence) and quality of an evidenced research article helps to guide research and promote its practicality and applicability for clinical practice. Hence, most research studies are based on different levels of evidence and different research designs. In addition to the levels of evidence, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ, 2002), in Melnyk, & Fineout-Overholt (2018) text, states that for any level of evidence to portray strength, it needs to show quality, quantity and consistency in research (Melnyk, & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). This will help to support my research or any research when the researcher follows the guidelines that have been established for any reputable research that will be published.
References:
Loura, D. D., Bernardes, R. A., Baixinho, C. L., Henriques, H. R., Félix, I. B., & Guerreiro, M. P. (2022). Nursing students’ learning from involvement in research projects: An integrative literature review. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 75(1). https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2021-0053
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. LWW.
Loura, D. D., Bernardes, R. A., Baixinho, C. L., Henriques, H. R., Félix, I. B., & Guerreiro, M. P. (2022). Nursing students’ learning from involvement in research projects: An integrative literature review. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 75(1). https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2021-0053
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333-339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Replies
DQ: Explain how the criteria on this table
Good post. Finding research that supports your clinical question, being able to critique the literature, and finding it valid and reliable is the basis of the DPI project. Also, I find using the research table template really works when you want to sort for concepts later. Good post, Dr. Etheridge
Thanks for your post, I agree with you that there are different reasons for a literature review. The main purpose of a literature review is to gain an understanding of the existing research and debates relevant to a particular topic or area of study and to present that knowledge in the form of a written report. Conducting a literature review helps the researcher build knowledge in the field, learn about important concepts, research methods, and experimental techniques that are used in the field. It will also gain insight into how researchers apply the concepts of learning in a unit to real-world problems. Another great benefit of literature reviews is that as you read, you will get a better understanding of how research findings are presented and discussed in a particular discipline.
