Purpose

·   The Topic Search Strategy Paper is the first of three related assignments which are due in Unit 3.

·   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.

REQUIREMENTS/PREPARING THE PAPER

·   Each student will sign-up for a group to formulate an evidence-based practice topic of interest

·   Each group will formulate research question using PICO format.

·   Each group will search, retrieve, and receive approval for 2 PRIMARY DATA ARTICLES to answer the group Research Question.

·   Paper should include a Title and Reference pages.

·   Page Length: 3-4 pages Excluding Title and Reference pages

·   The paper will include the following:

§ Clinical Question

§ Describe problem

§ Significance of problem in terms of outcomes or statistics

§ Your PICOT question in support of the group topic

§ Purpose of your paper

§ Levels of Evidence

§ Type of question asked

§ Best evidence found to answer question

§ Search Strategy

§ Search terms

§ Databases used: Chamberlain Database

§ Refinement decisions made

§ Identification of two most relevant articles

§ Format

§ Correct grammar and spelling

§ Use of headings for each section

§ Use of APA format (sixth edition)

Required to write the paper based on PAPER FORMAT in page 2

Refers to Grading Rubric in page 3

GROUP TOPIC SEARCH STRATEGY (GTSS) PAPER FORMAT

CLINICAL QUESTION

Research Question

·   Accurately and clearly states your group’s research question as your group formulated using PICO format

Purpose of Paper

·   Describe the purpose of group topic search strategy (GTSS) paper

SEARCH STRATEGY

Search Terms

·   List all terms your group used to search for your group articles (i.e. breast cancer, screening, mammography, intervention, assessment, influencing factors….etc.)

Library Databases

·   List Chamberlain library database your group used (i.e. EBSCO, Medline, OVID, PubMed....etc.)

·   Google search engine is NOT the library database

Availability of Articles

·   How many research articles were available to answer your group research question?

§ Provide numbers of articles, NOT just saying “plenty, sufficient, many…etc. 

Refinement Decisions

Changed Decision

·   What decision(s) have your group changed from your group’s original search strategies? (i.e. peer-review, within last 5 years, primary data article, full-text….etc.) 

Rationale for Changed Decision

·   What was your group’s rationale for your group decision to change from original search strategies?

Availability of Articles

·   How many research articles were available to answer your group research question after refinement decision?   

§ Provide numbers of articles, NOT just saying “plenty, sufficient, many…etc.

FINAL ARTICLES

Final Decision

Selection of Relevant Articles

·  Describe decisions your group made to specifically select 2 PRIMARY DATA ARTICLES as relevant for answering your group Research Question and for reviewing/analyzing for Analyzing Published Research Article paper

Levels of Evidence

Topic Address Method

·   Describe how each article addresses the topic (i.e. therapy, prognosis, risk factors, assessments, measurement tools, meaning….etc)

§ Describe the purpose of study and identify key points

Study Type

·   Identify study type of article(s): Quantitative, Qualitative, Descriptive, or Mixed-Method Study

Level of Evidence: Evidence Level Pyramid

·   Identify and describe the level of evidence based on Evidence Level/Hierarchy Pyramid

·   Refers to Handout (Quick Guide to Designs in an Evidence Hierarchy)

SUMMARY

·   Summarize overall article search processes/procedures