(^136) Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice: Model and Guidelines, Third Edition
Explicit search strategies, inclusion and exclusion criteria, methodological de-
tails (of not only the included studies but also the conduct of the meta-synthesis
itself), and reviewer management of study quality should all be noted. Similar to
other summative modalities, a “meta-synthesis should be undertaken by a team
of experts since the application of multiple perspectives to the processes of study
appraisal, coding, charting, mapping, and interpretation may result in additional
insights, and thus in a more complete interpretation of the subject of the review”
(Jones, 2004, p. 277).
EBP teams need to keep in mind that judgments related to study strengths and
weaknesses as well as to the suitability of recommendations for the target popu-
lation are both context-specific and dependent on the question asked. Some con-
ditions or circumstances, such as clinical setting or time of day, are relevant to
determining the applicability of a particular recommended intervention.
Rating Strength of Research Evidence
Research evidence, when well executed (of good to high quality), is generally
given a higher strength rating than other types of evidence. When appraising
individual research studies, two major components come into play: study design
(level) and study quality (methods and execution), with particular attention given
to study limitations. When synthesizing overall evidence, important criteria are
quality, consistency of evidence, and applicability to population or setting of in-
terest.Tips for Reading Research
Teams engaging in EBP activities should be educated readers and interpreters
of research publications. The completeness of a research report and the reader’s
ability to understand the meaning of terms used in the report can help or hinder
an EBP team’s efforts. Though standards exist for writing research articles, the
degree to which journals demand adherence to these standards varies. Classic
elements of published research include the title, abstract, introduction, method,
results, discussion, and conclusion (Lunsford & Lunsford, 1996). Another
organization format is IMRAD, which organizes material into four sections: