There are many sources of information available on the web and in journals relating to the nursing discipline. Therefore, it is of pivotal importance to understand the basic tenets of critical appraisal of research for its use in interprofessional healthcare practices. The aim of evidence-based practice (EBP) is to employ a three-pronged approach, blending the best available research evidence, patient values and preferences, and clinical expertise.

In this task, you will critique two primary research evidence sources. You will select one quantitative and one qualitative peer-reviewed journal article on a healthcare topic of interest.

Your submission must be your original work. No more than a combined total of 30% of the submission and no more than a 10% match to any one individual source can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. An originality report is provided when you submit your task that can be used as a guide.

You must use the rubric to direct the creation of your submission because it provides detailed criteria that will be used to evaluate your work. Each requirement below may be evaluated by more than one rubric aspect. The rubric aspect titles may contain hyperlinks to relevant portions of the course. 

Note: Research evidence must not be more than five years old.

Note: Upload a copy of the full text of the articles with your submission.

Note: You may use the same topic and research articles on both Task 1: Analyzing Research Articles and Task 2: Evidence-Based Practice Change.

A.  Evaluate a primary, quantitative research, peer-reviewed journal article (suggested length of 3–5 pages) that has healthcare implications by doing the following:

Note: You may select an article focusing on a healthcare topic of your choice or an article focusing on one of the following topics: falls and fall prevention, pain management in children, opioid abuse, hepatitis C, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, or hand hygiene and infections in hospitals. 

1.  Describe how the researcher addresses the following four areas in the selected journal article:

• background or introduction (e.g., the purpose of the study)
• review of the literature (e.g., research used to support the study)
• data analysis (e.g., how the researcher analyzed the data)
• methodology (e.g., research type and sampling methods)

2.  Evaluate whether the evidence presented in each of the four areas of the journal article from part A1 supports the outcome of the study and implications for future research.

3.  Explain how the protection of human subjects and cultural considerations were addressed by the researcher, using specific information from the journal article from part A.

4.  Describe one strength and one limitation of the study.

5.  Describe how the evidence from the article in part A informs current nursing practices.

B.  Evaluate a primary, qualitative research, peer-reviewed journal article (suggested length of 3–5 pages) that has healthcare implications by doing the following:

Note: You may select an article focusing on a healthcare topic of your choice or an article focusing on one of the following topics: falls and fall prevention, pain management in children, opioid abuse, hepatitis C, catheter associated urinary tract infections, or hand hygiene and infections in hospitals. You may use the same topic that was used in part A.

1.  Describe how the researcher addresses the following four areas in the selected journal article:

•  background or introduction (e.g., the purpose of the study)
•  review of the literature (e.g., research used to support the study)
•  data analysis (e.g., how the researcher analyzed the data)
•  methodology (e.g., research type and sampling methods)

2.  Evaluate whether the evidence presented in each of the four areas of the journal article from part B1 supports the outcome of the study and implications for future research.

3.  Explain how the protection of human subjects and cultural considerations were addressed by the researcher, using specific information from the journal article from part B.

4.  Identify one strength and one limitation of the study.

5.  Describe how the evidence from the article in part B informs current nursing practices.

C.  Acknowledge sources, using APA-formatted in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.

D.  Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.