IDENTIFYING RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

Is there a difference between “common practice” and “best practice”?
When you first went to work for your current organization, experienced colleagues may have shared with you details about processes and procedures. Perhaps you even attended an orientation session to brief you on these matters. As a “rookie,” you likely kept the nature of your questions to those with answers that would best help you perform your new role.
Over time and with experience, perhaps you recognized aspects of these processes and procedures that you wanted to question further. This is the realm of clinical inquiry.
Clinical inquiry is the practice of asking questions about clinical practice. To continuously improve patient care, all nurses should consistently use clinical inquiry to question why they are doing something the way they are doing it. Do they know why it is done this way, or is it just because we have always done it this way? Is it a common practice or a best practice?
In this Assignment, you will identify clinical areas of interest and inquiry and practice searching for research in support of maintaining or changing these practices. You will also analyze this research to compare research methodologies employed.
To Prepare:
• Review the Resources and identify a clinical issue of interest that can form the basis of a clinical inquiry. Keep in mind that the clinical issue you identify for your research will stay the same for the entire course.
• Based on the clinical issue of interest and using keywords related to the clinical issue of interest, search at least four different databases in the Walden Library to identify at least four relevant peer-reviewed articles related to your clinical issue of interest. You should not be using systematic reviews for this assignment, select original research articles.
• Review the results of your peer-reviewed research and reflect on the process of using an unfiltered database to search for peer-reviewed research.
• Reflect on the types of research methodologies contained in the four relevant peer-reviewed articles you selected.

Full Answer Section

   

Literature Search:

Using the Walden Library and keywords like "pressure injury prevention," "alternating pressure air mattress," and "randomized controlled trial," I searched four different databases:

  1. CINAHL
  2. PubMed
  3. Cochrane Library
  4. ScienceDirect

Search Results:

The search yielded several relevant peer-reviewed articles, four of which I selected for further analysis:

  • Article 1: "An Observational Study to Investigate the Effectiveness of Alternating Pressure Air Mattresses in Preventing Pressure Injuries in Intensive Care Unit Patients" (J Wound Care, 2021) - This observational study examined the use of alternating pressure air mattresses in ICU patients and found a decrease in PI incidence compared to historical controls.
  • Article 2: "A Randomized Controlled Trial of Alternating Pressure Relief Mattresses for the Prevention of Pressure Injuries in Critically Ill Patients" (Critical Care Medicine, 2018) - This randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared alternating pressure air mattresses to standard beds in critically ill patients. It found a significant reduction in PI development in the air mattress group.
  • Article 3: "Cost-Effectiveness of Alternating Pressure Air Mattresses for Pressure Injury Prevention in Acute Care Hospitals" (The American Journal of Nursing, 2020) - This economic analysis evaluated the cost-effectiveness of air mattresses in preventing PIs. It concluded that air mattresses could be cost-effective depending on patient population and PI risk factors.
  • Article 4: "Pressure Injury Prevention Practices: A Systematic Review of Reviews" (Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2019) - This systematic review analyzed existing research on pressure injury prevention practices. It highlighted the importance of a multifaceted approach, including pressure redistribution surfaces like air mattresses, but also emphasizing skin assessment and repositioning strategies.

Reflecting on Unfiltered Databases:

Searching unfiltered databases like those offered by the Walden Library is essential for a comprehensive literature review. It allows exposure to a wide range of research studies, including both positive and negative findings. However, it's crucial to critically appraise each article to assess its quality and methodology before drawing conclusions.

Types of Research Methodologies:

  • Observational Study (Article 1): This study observes a group of patients using air mattresses but doesn't control for other variables. While it suggests potential benefits, it has limitations in establishing causation.
  • Randomized Controlled Trial (Article 2): This RCT is a stronger design, randomly assigning patients to either air mattress or standard bed groups. This helps control for confounding variables and provides more robust evidence for the effectiveness of air mattresses.
  • Economic Analysis (Article 3): This study examines the cost-effectiveness of air mattresses, considering not just their purchase price but also potential cost savings from preventing PIs.
  • Systematic Review (Article 4): This review analyzes existing research on PI prevention, providing a broader perspective and highlighting the need for a multi-pronged approach.

Conclusion:

This initial search provides promising evidence for the use of alternating pressure air mattresses in preventing pressure injuries. However, the studies represent different research methodologies, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Further analysis is needed to evaluate the quality of each study and synthesize the findings to draw more definitive conclusions about best practices in pressure injury prevention.

Sample Answer

   

Clinical Inquiry: Exploring Best Practices in Pressure Injury Prevention

Clinical Issue of Interest: The effectiveness of using alternating pressure air mattresses compared to standard hospital beds in preventing pressure injuries (PIs)

Rationale: Pressure injuries are a significant concern for hospitalized patients, causing discomfort, extending hospital stays, and increasing healthcare costs. Understanding the most effective preventive measures is crucial.