SEARCHING DATABASES

When you decide to purchase a new car, you first decide what is important to you. If mileage and dependability are the important factors, you will search for data focused more on these factors and less on color options and sound systems.

The same holds true when searching for research evidence to guide your clinical inquiry and professional decisions. Developing a formula for an answerable, researchable question that addresses your need will make the search process much more effective. One such formula is the PICO(T) format.

In this Discussion, you will transform a clinical inquiry into a searchable question in PICO(T) format, so you can search the electronic databases more effectively and efficiently. You will share this PICO(T) question and examine strategies you might use to increase the rigor and effectiveness of a database search on your PICO(T) question.

Post a brief QUESTION of your clinical issue of interest. This clinical issue will remain the same for the entire course and will be the basis for the development of your PICOT question. Describe your search results in terms of the number of articles returned on original research and how this changed as you added search terms using your Boolean operators. Finally, explain strategies you might make to increase the rigor and effectiveness of a database search on your PICO(T) question. Be specific and provide examples.

To Prepare:

Review the Resources and identify a clinical issue of interest that can form the basis of a clinical inquiry.

Review the materials offering guidance on using databases, performing keyword searches, and developing PICO(T) questions provided in the Resources.

Based on the clinical issue of interest and using keywords related to the clinical issue of interest, search at least two 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 Resources for guidance and develop a PICO(T) question of interest to you for further study. It is suggested that an Intervention-type PICOT question be developed as these seem to work best for this course. 

• *Library tip: 
• Walden Library recommends starting your search broadly with one concept or search word and adding more elements one at a time. Depending on your topic, the evidence will not necessarily address all the aspects of your PICO(T) question in one article. Select the most important concepts to search and find the best evidence available, even if that means assembling evidence from multiple articles.
• Nursing Research PageLinks to an external site. databases and resources specifically for Nursing
• Evidence-Based Practice guide: Evidence TypesLinks to an external site.

Nursing and Health research videosLinks to an external site., including a 15-minute introduction

Get HelpLinks to an external site. page, including Ask a LibrarianLinks to an external site. service

Quick Answers:

How do I find an article that reports on research that uses a specific methodology?Links to an external site.

How do I find original or primary research that analyzes empirical data?Links to an external site.

What is the Find at Walden button?Links to an external site.

Message from the teacher
In this Discussion, you will transform a clinical inquiry into a searchable question in PICO(T) format. This will assist in searching the electronic databases more effectively and efficiently. You will share this PICO(T) question with the class and examine strategies to increase the rigor and effectiveness of a database search on your PICO(T) question. To sum it all up:
By Day 3 of Week 4, post a brief QUESTION of your clinical issue of interest (remember this will stay the same for the entire course). Describe the search results regarding the number of articles returned on the original research and how this changed as you added search terms using the Boolean operators (again, see my announcement with links titled Library Resources for further info on the Boolean operators). Explain any strategies you might apply to increase the rigor and effectiveness of a database search on your PICO(T) question. Be specific and provide examples. An Intervention-type PICOT question should be developed as these seem to work best for this course.
Review ‘How to prepare for this discussion’ for the library tips, quick answer section, and learning resources.
Don’t forget to Respond to at least two of your colleagues (or myself), on two different days and provide further suggestions on how their database search might be improved. This should be done by Day 6, Week 4.
******My example of PICOT(T) research question********
In hospitalized patients with post-operative pain, does intravenous morphine, compared to oral acetaminophen, provide greater pain relief within the first 24 hours after surgery?
P- Population/problem: hospitalized patients with post-operative pain
I- Intervention: intravenous morphine
C- Comparison: compared to oral acetaminophen.
O- Outcome: provide greater pain relief.
T- Time: within the first 24 hours after surgery