Assignment 4.1: Preliminary Search for Evidence

You will now conduct a preliminary search for evidence regarding your approved topic. This assignment will help you learn how to conduct an effective database search for current literature about nursing practice. This is also the start of you finding articles for your Synthesis of Evidence Paper. Assignment Guidelines Complete the following steps: Identify your PICO(T) question. Perform a search in BU library databases-you will want to search multiple at one time. Please review the information created by our Librarian, Dr. Neilson-Ott found under Module 3 AND videos located under this module. In nursing we most often use Academic Search Complete, EBSCO, CINHAL, Health Source, PubMed, etc..- you will select 2 of these databases to conduct your search. Select keywords from your PICO(T) question with which to start your search. Identify subject headings for your search. Combine searches using the Boolean connector OR or AND. Limit the final search by selecting defining parameters (i.e., English, research, peer reviewed, 5 years, U.S. geographic, etc). Create a file with a table to display the results of your search. Please use the Sample Database Table for guidance. Create the table in a Word document using the Sample Database Table for PICO(T) Question (PDF) Download Sample Database Table for PICO(T) Question (PDF). You will have 2 tables for submission, one for each database Read the Professors Tips below for more guidance Professors Tips The articles must include only current evidence (published within the last 5 years). You may use class resources, but these will be in addition to the final 12 published works. Do not use secondary references unless absolutely necessary (obtain approval from the instructor before using secondary sources). Do not use literature reviews, systematic reviews, integrative reviews, or meta-synthesis unless approved by your professor as you should be synthesizing each study yourself instead of synthesizing what someone else synthesized. As we move forward, you will need to determine if you are able to obtain enough quality articles for this course. If you cannot find enough articles for this PICO(T) you should consider refining/editing your PICO(T); it is OK as long as you are still using the topic your instructor approved. Some of you may find that after doing this preliminary search for evidence, the direction of the PICO(T) question may change.