Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Thrid Edition: Model and Guidelines

(^82) Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice: Model and Guidelines, Third Edition

EBP Search Examples

The first step in finding evidence is selecting searchable keywords from the an-

swerable EBP question. The Question Development Tool facilitates this process

by directing the team to identify the practice problem and, using the PICO com-

ponents, to develop the search question.

For example, consider the following background question: “What risk factors are

associated with serious injury from falls in the adult acute care setting?” Some

search terms to use may be falls, risk factors, adults, and acute care settings. Ta-

ble 5.1 illustrates how the PICO format focuses these terms. However, additional

terms such as hospitals, injury, ambulatory care facilities, and terms synonymous

or linked to fall prevention could also be used.

Table 5.1 PICO Example: Risk Factors Associated with Injury from Falls

P (Patient, population,

problem):

Adults in acute-care settings

I (Intervention): Identification of fall-injury risk factors

C (Comparison): (Not applicable)

O (Outcomes): Decrease in serious injury from falls

Teams need to consider the full context surrounding the problem when thinking of
search terms. As an example, intervention is a term used frequently in nursing; it
encompasses the full range of activities a nurse undertakes in the care of patients.
Searching the literature for nursing interventions, however, is far too general and
needs to be focused on specific interventions. In the preceding example, “Risk Factors
Associated with Injury from Falls,” possible interventions may include medication,
equipment, and floor coverings. Table 5.2 shows the development of an answerable
background question for a specific EBP problem and the corresponding search
strategy.