Author Question: A nurse working on a PICO question has found a large amount of literature available on the topic ... (Read 74 times)

pepyto · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

A nurse working on a PICO question has found a large amount of literature available on the topic with multiple studies that have been published. Which type of study should have the best evi-dence?

a. Meta-analysis of randomized control trials
b. Opinion of an expert committee
c. One well-designed randomized control trial
d. Systematic review of descriptive and qua-litative studies

Question 2

An emergency department nurse is caring for a patient with a laceration on the lower leg that has become infected. On assessment the nurse realizes that a sign of an inflammatory response con-sists of:

a. wound blanching.
b. coolness at the site of injury.
c. a vascular reaction that delivers fluid, blood, and nutrients to the area.
d. decreased pain sensation.

Toya9913 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A
Systematic reviews or meta-analyses are state-of-the-science summaries from an individual re-searcher or panel of experts and are on the highest level of the hierarchy. These research summa-ries are the perfect answers to PICO(T) questions because the researchers have rigorously sum-marized all current evidence on the question. A single RCT is not as conclusive as a review of several RCTs on the same question. Opinion of an expert committee is on the lowest level of the hierarchy of evidence. Systematic review is above opinions but is below meta-analysis on the hierarchy of evidence.

Answer to Question 2

C
Inflammation is a protective vascular reaction that delivers fluid, blood products, and nutrients to interstitial tissues in an area of injury. This process neutralizes and eliminates pathogens or ne-crotic tissues and establishes a means of repairing body cells and tissues. Signs of inflammation include swelling, redness (not blanching), heat, pain or tenderness, and loss of function in the affected body part.