Assessment Task 2: Written Assignment - Searching for evidence

Description: Students are required to: identify, demonstrate and explain the rationale for conducting a structured search for evidence based on a health scenario. Student are also required to discuss how relevant the search is to the clinical question.

Writing in an essay format (introduction, body, conclusion, reference list). The table/s are included in the word count, do not use an appendix. Minimum four (4) references (two to support your search strategy, two examples from your final search). Small/short headings may be used. Do not repeat the questions or scenario.

1. Based on the answerable question, identify key words, search terms and alternative words that you will then use to complete a structured search for evidence.

2. Identify the best two (2) databases that you would use to search for evidence related to the clinical question.

3. Explain why these two (2) databases are the best databases for conducting your structured search.

4. Use one (1) database described above to demonstrate your comprehensive and structured search for evidence using the table from Richardson-Tench et al. (2016, p. 47). Use the following headings in the table: 'actions', 'search mode', 'results', and 'limiters'.

5. The table should demonstrate the use of a variety of search strategies (example Boolean operators, truncation, wildcard, limiters).

6. Your final search should demonstrate a significantly smaller number of results than your initial search.

7. Discuss how relevant your final search results were related to the PICO/PICo question/elements.

8. Include the best two (2) examples from your final search results as a full reference in the reference list.

Purpose: This assignment requires your understanding of step one and two of the evidence-based practice (EBP) process. By undertaking this assessment task you will demonstrate your ability to use an answerable question to search for the best available evidence related to a clinical scenario.

Searching for evidence scenarios -

Scenario 1: Fish Oil

Fish oil is consumed by millions of Australians as a remedy for arthritis. Peggy is a 65 year old lady who has degenerative osteoarthritis in her knees. Her friend Edith from the bowls club says that she has started taking fish oil and has noticed that her arthritis has really improved. Peggy is keen to try anything that would help to relieve her arthritis but would like to know if there is any real evidence to support her taking fish oil. Peggy doesn't have a lot of extra money to spend buying expensive fish oil capsules.

Clinical Question: In older women with osteoarthritis is fish oil an effective treatment option?

Scenario 2: Green Tea

Green Tea has been used for medicinal purposes in Asia for thousands of years. Current claims of the benefits of green tea include improving mental alertness, relieving digestive symptoms and headaches, promoting weight loss and as a preventative measure for heart disease and cancer. Krishna is a 25 year old whose family has a history of cancer. She has previously consumed normal (black) tea and wants to know if there is any evidence about the preventative value in drinking green tea to prevent cancer.

Clinical Question: In young women will drinking green tea prevent cancer compared to drinking black tea?

Scenario 3: Silver Dressings

You are required to make a house call (as a student paramedic or student community nurse) to a young 21 year old male, Billy who has a history of motor vehicle accident (MVA). He has a number of significant wounds following the MVA. He has called because his temperature is above normal, he has signs of fever and one of his wounds is red and is malodourous. Whilst undertaking a physical assessment Billy asks you about a news article he read discussing the effects of Manuka honey and silver dressings. You are uncertain how to answer Billy at this time so you decide when you get home to undertake a structured search for evidence.

Clinical Question: What is the effectiveness of silver dressings compared to Manuka honey in young men following traumatic injury?

Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar