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Does this evidence address my EBP question?

Do not proceed with appraisal of this evidence

1.     Was there manipulation of an independent variable?

1. Was there a control group?
2. Were study participants randomly assigned to the interventionand control groups?

If Yes to all three, this is a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) or Experimental Study   

If Yes to #1and #2 and No to #3, OR Yes to #1 and No to #2and#3, this is Quasi Experimental(some degree of investigator control, some manipulation of
an independent variable, lacks random assignment to groups, may have a control group)

If No to #1, #2, and #3, this is Non-Experimental (no manipulation of independent variable, can be descriptive, comparative, or correlational, often uses secondary data)or Qualitative(exploratory in naturesuch as interviews or focus groups, a starting point for studies for which little research currently exists, has small sample sizes,  may use results  to design empirical studies)

NEXT, complete THE bOTTOM SECTION ON THE Following PAGE, “STUDY FINDINGS THAT HELP YOU ANSWER THE EBP QUESTION”

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B.  Is this a summary of multiple research studies? If No, go to Non-Research Evidence Appraisal Form.

1.     Does it employ a comprehensive search strategy and rigorous appraisal method (Systematic Review)?  If No, use Non-Research Evidence Appraisal Tool; if Yes:

a.     Does it combine and analyze results from the studies to generate a new statistic (effect size)? (Systematic review with meta-analysis)

b.    Does it analyze and synthesize concepts from qualitative studies? (Systematic review with meta-synthesis)

If Yes to either a or b, go to #2B below.

2.     For Systematic Reviews and Systematic Reviews with meta-analysis or meta-synthesis:

a.     Are all studies included RCTs?

b.    Are the studies a combination of RCTs and quasi-experimental or
quasi-experimental only?

c.     Are the studies a combination of RCTs, quasi-experimental and
non-experimental or non-experimental only?

d.    Are any or all of the included studies qualitative?

complete THENEXT SECTION,“STUDY FINDINGS THAT HELP YOU ANSWER THE EBP QUESTION”

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·         Was the purpose of the study clearly presented?

·         Was the literature review current (most sources within last 5 years or classic)?

·         Was sample size sufficient based on study design and rationale?

·         If there is a control group:

o    Were the characteristics and/or demographics similar in both the control and intervention groups?

o    If multiple settings were used, were the settings similar?

o    Were all groups equally treated except for the interventiongroup(s)?

·         Are data collection methods described clearly?

·         Were the instruments reliable (Cronbach’s α [alpha]> 0.70)?

·         Was instrument validity discussed?

·         If surveys/questionnaires were used, was the response rate > 25%?

·         Were the results presented clearly?

·         If tables were presented, was the narrative consistent with the table content?

·         Were study limitations identified and addressed?

·         Were conclusions based on results?

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·         Were reports comprehensive, with reproducible search strategy?

o  Key search terms stated

o  Multiple databases searchedand identified

o  Inclusion and exclusion criteria stated

·         Was there a flow diagram showing the number of studies eliminated at each level of review?

·         Were details of included studies presented (design, sample, methods, results, outcomes, strengths and limitations)?

·         Were methods for appraising the strength of evidence (level and quality) described?

·         Were conclusions based on results?

o    Results were interpreted

o   Conclusions flowed logically from the interpretation and systematic review question

·         Did the systematic review include both a section addressing limitations and how they were addressed?

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Quality Rating Based on quality appraisal

AHigh quality:  consistent, generalizable results; sufficient sample size for the study design; adequate control; definitive conclusions; consistent recommendations based on comprehensiveliterature review that includes thorough reference to scientific evidence

BGood quality: reasonably consistent results; sufficient sample size for the study design; some control, and fairly definitive conclusions; reasonably consistent recommendations based on fairly comprehensive literature review that includes some reference to scientific evidence

C  Low quality or major flaws: little evidence with inconsistent results; insufficient sample size for the study design; conclusions cannot be drawn