A patient who immigrated to the United States from Honduras was ...

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A patient who immigrated to the United States from Honduras was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The patient took an antipsychotic medication for 3 weeks but showed no improvement.
 
  Which resource should the treatment team consult for information on more effective medications for this patient?
 
  a. Clinical algorithm
  b. Clinical pathway
  c. Clinical practice guideline
  d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD)

Question 2

Which research evidence would most influence a group of nurses to change their practice?
 
  a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practice
  b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
  c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
  d. Critical pathway

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Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
A clinical algorithm is a guideline that describes diagnostic and/or treatment approaches drawn from large databases of information. These guidelines help the treatment team make decisions cognizant of an individual patient's needs, such as ethnic origin, age, or gender. A clinical pathway is a map of interventions and treatments related to a specific disorder. Clinical practice guidelines summarize best practices about specific health problems. The ICD classifies diseases.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Research findings are graded using a hierarchy of evidence. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials is Level A and provides the strongest evidence for changing practice. Expert committee recommendations and descriptive studies lend less powerful and influential evidence. A critical pathway is not evidence; it incorporates research findings after they have been analyzed.

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TYSM

[Bigfoot1984]

Gracias!