Create a 3-5 page submission in which you develop a PICO(T) question for a specific care issue and evaluate the evidence you locate, which could help to answer the question.
Introduction
PICO(T) is an acronym that helps researchers and practitioners define aspects of a potential study or investigation.
It stands for:
• P – Patient/population/problem.
• I – Intervention.
• C – Comparison (of potential interventions, typically).
• O – Outcome(s).
• T – Time frame (if time frame is relevant).
The end goal of applying PICO(T) is to develop a question that can help guide the search for evidence (Boswell & Cannon, 2015). From this perspective, a PICO(T) question can be a valuable starting point for nurses who are starting to apply an evidence-based model or EBPs. By taking the time to precisely define the areas in which the nurse will be looking for evidence, searches become more efficient and effective. Essentially, by precisely defining the types of evidence within specific areas, the nurse will be more likely to discover relevant and useful evidence during their search. When applying the PICO(T) approach, the nurse can isolate the interventions of interest and compare to other existing interventions for the evidenced impact on the outcome of the concern.
You are encouraged to complete the Vila Health PICO(T) Process activity before you develop the plan proposal. This activity offers an opportunity to practice working through creating a PICO(T) question within the context of an issue at a Vila Health facility. These skills will be necessary to complete Assessment 3 successfully. This is for your own practice and self-assessment and demonstrates your engagement in the course.
Reference
Boswell, C., & Cannon, S. (2015). Introduction to nursing research. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Professional Context
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you will be responsible for locating and identifying credible and scholarly resources to incorporate the best available evidence for the purposes of enhancing clinical reasoning and judgement skills. When reliable and relevant evidence-based findings are utilized, patients, health care systems, and nursing practice outcomes are positively impacted.
PICO(T) is a framework that can help you structure your definition of the issue, potential approach that you are going to use, and your predictions related to the issue. Word choice is important in the PICO(T) process because different word choices for similar concepts will lead you toward different existing evidence and research studies that would help inform the development of your initial question. When writing a PICO(T)-formatted research question, you want to focus on the impact of the intervention and the comparison on the outcome you desire.
Scenario
For this assessment, please use a health care issue of interest from your current or past nursing practice.
If you do not have an issue of interest from your personal nursing practice, then review the optional Case Studies presented in the resources and select one of those as the basis for your assessment.
Instructions
For this assessment, select a health care issue of interest and apply the PICO(T) process to develop the research question and research it.
Your initial goal is to define the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome. In some cases, a time frame is relevant and you should include that as well, when writing a question you can research related to your issue of interest. After you define your question, research it, and organize your initial findings, select the two sources of evidence that seem the most relevant to your question and analyze them in more depth. Specifically, interpret each source’s specific findings and best practices related to your issues, as well explain how the evidence would help you plan and make decisions related to your question.
If you need some structure to organize your initial thoughts and research, the PICOT Question and Research Template document (accessible from the “Create PICO(T) Questions” page in the Capella library’s Evidence Based Practice guide) might be helpful.
In your submission, make sure you address the following grading criteria:
• Define a practice issue to be explored via a PICO(T) approach. Create a PICO(T)-formatted research question
• Identify sources of evidence that could be potentially effective in answering a PICO(T) question (databases, journals, websites, etc.).
• Explain the findings from articles or other sources of evidence as it relates to the identified health care issue.
• Explain the relevance of the findings from chosen sources of evidence to making decision related to a PICO(T) question.
• Communicate using writing that is clear, logical, and professional with correct grammar and spelling using the current APA style.
Example Assessment: You may use the following to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like:
• Assessment 3 Example [PDF].
Additional Requirements
Your assessment should meet the following requirements:
• Length of submission: Create a 3-5-page submission focused on defining a research question and interpreting evidence relevant to answering it.
• Number of references: Cite a minimum of four sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your findings and considerations. Resources should be no more than 5 years old.
• APA formatting: Format references and citations according to the current APA style.
Portfolio Prompt: Remember to save the final assessment to your ePortfolio so that you may refer to it as you complete the final capstone course.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:
• Competency 1: Interpret findings from scholarly quantitative, qualitative, and outcomes research articles and studies.
◦ Explain the findings from articles or other sources of evidence that are relevant to the health care issue.
• Competency 2: Analyze the relevance and potential effectiveness of evidence when making a decision.
◦ Identify sources of evidence that could be potentially effective in answering a PICO(T) question.
◦ Explain the relevance of the findings from chosen sources of evidence to making decision related to a PICO(T) question.
• Competency 3: Apply an evidence-based practice model to address a practice issue.
◦ Define a practice issue to be explored via a PICO(T) approach and develop a PICO(T)-formatted research question.
• Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly communication strategies to lead practice changes based on evidence.
◦ Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.
◦ Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.
PICO(T) Questions and an Evidence-Based Approach Scoring Guide
CRITERIA
NON-PERFORMANCE
BASIC
PROFICIENT
DISTINGUISHED
Define a practice issue to be explored via a PICO(T) approach and develop a PICO(T)-formatted research question.
Does not define a practice issue to be explored via a PICO(T) approach.
Identifies a practice issue, but does not frame it within the context of a PICO(T) question or approach.
Defines a practice issue to be explored via a PICO(T) approach. Develops a PICO(T)-formatted research question.
Defines a practice issue to be explored via a PICO(T) approach. Develops a PICO(T)-formatted research question. Notes how the exploration of the practice issue will benefit from a PICO(T) approach.
Identify sources of evidence that could be potentially effective in answering a PICO(T) question.
Does not identify sources of evidence that could be potentially effective in answering a PICO(T) question.
Attempts to identify sources of evidence, but does not connect them to the PICO(T) question, or the connection is unclear.
Identifies sources of evidence that could potentially be effective in answering a PICO(T) question.
Identifies sources of evidence that could be potentially effective in answering a PICO(T) question. Presents criteria or rational used to determine potential to answer the PICO(T) question.
Explain the findings from articles or other sources of evidence that are relevant to the health care issue.
Does not explain the findings from articles or other sources of evidence that are relevant to the health care issue
Lists the findings from articles or other sources of evidence, but does not offer a full explanation.
Explains the findings from articles or other sources of evidence that are relevant to the health care issue.
Explains the findings from articles or other sources of evidence that are relevant to the health care issue. Notes which sources are the most credible.
Explain the relevance of the findings from chosen sources of evidence to making decision related to a PICO(T) question.
Does not explain the relevance of the findings from chosen sources of evidence.
Identifies the relevance of the findings from chosen sources of evidence, but does not offer a full explanation of how it relates to the PICO(T) question.
Explains the relevance of the findings from chosen sources of evidence to making decision related to a PICO(T) question.
Explains the relevance of the findings from chosen sources of evidence to making decision related to a PICO(T) question. Notes which findings are the most relevant or likely to lead to positive outcomes.
Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.
Does not organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions. Contains errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.
Attempts to organize content with some logical flow and smooth transitions. Contains several errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.
Organizes content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.
Organizes content with a clear purpose. Content flows logically with smooth transitions using coherent paragraphs, correct grammar/punctuation, word choice, and free of spelling errors.
Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.
Does not apply APA formatting to headings, intext citations, and references. Does not use quotes or paraphrase correctly.
Applies APA formatting to in-text citations, headings and references incorrectly and/or inconsistently, detracting noticeably from the content. Inconsistently uses headings, quotes and/or paraphrasing.
Applies APA formatting to in-text citations and references exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.
Exhibits strict and flawless adherence to APA formatting of headings, intext citations, and references. Quotes and paraphrases correctly.
