Question

Use "Roddy and Ganz Worksheets" to complete an assessment of the research studies: "Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines: "ICU Nurses' Oral-Care Practices and the Current Best Evidence" (Ganz et al.).

In a paper (1,000-1,250 words), analyze and support whether you believe that the changes recommended are statistically valid and sound enough to make practice changes in a hospital.

Answer 1

What was the research question?
What were the independent variables? What was the dependent variable?
What was the sample size and how was it chosen?
What was the experimental design and use of control group?
Were the instruments of measurement shown to be reliable and valid?
What data types were included?
Describe the statistics used, what they were used for, and the results.
What were the researchers’ conclusions? How did they answer the research question(s)?
How was error controlled?
Did you see any concerns with the research study? If so, what?

1. To compare those practices of oral care with current evidence-based practice and to determine if the use of evidence-based practice was associated with personal demographic or professional characteristics.

2.Dependent variable:

Oral practice of ICU nurses

Independent variable

Personal demographic factors

3.A sample size of 218 practicing ICU nurses in 2004-2005.

Members of evidence Based Nurse group recruited nursed from their own ICU's with some also recruiting nurses from other units within the same organization selected by convenient sampling

4. Here the researchers were chosen a non-experimental design with checklists and questionnaires

The design chose for the present study is questionnaire /Survey method

Here there is no control group and as well as it is a questionnaire /Survey method

5. The survey instrument was based on the literature and constructed by a committee of experienced ICU nurses. Content validity of the tool was improved by including questions suggested by members of the EBN task force and consultants. The survey was also sent for review to an instructor of dental hygiene and to other ICU nurses to obtain content validity. Reviewers were also asked to suggest additional items or remove those which are listed. The final survey questionnaire was a conglomeration of items suggested by the EBP group and those of the reviewers.

6. The survey instrument included questions about demographic and professional characteristics and a checklist of oral-care practices. The nurse rated their perceived level of priority concerning oral care on a scale from 0 to 100. A sore was computed representing the sum of 14 items related to equipment, solutions, assessments, and techniques associated with the current best evidence.

7. Descriptive statistics including measures of central tendency and dispersion and frequency data were used to describe the sample as well as response to the oral care practices survey. The score was statistically analyzed using ANOVA.

Results:

The most commonly used equipment was gauze pads(84%), followed by tongue depressors(55%). and toothbrushes (34%). Chlorhexidine was a common solution used (75%). Less than half(44%) reported brushing their patient's teeth. The majority was performed an oral assessment before beginning oral care(71%).none could describe what assessment tool was used. Only 57% of nurses reported documenting their oral care. Nurses rated oral care of the intubated patient with a priority of 67 $\tiny \pm$ 27.1. Wide variations were noted within and between units in terms of which techniques, equipment, and solutions were used.No significant relationships were found between the use of evidence-based protocol and demographic and professional characteristics or with the priority given to oral care.

8.Conclusions:

The nurses were ranked oral care as a high priority, levels of EBP were found to be relatively low.

Demographic and professional characteristics were not found to be associated with the use of EBP.

Therefore all nurses regardless of personal characteristics should be involved in educational programs related to oral care and evidence-based practice and should be encouraged to introduce and utilize written protocols based on the latest evidence in an attempt to decrease VAP on their units.

9. The errors should be controlled by a large sample with a convenient sampling selection, who met the criteria of the sample with an application of a content valid questionnaire and systematic data analysis were followed.

10.It is very important that all the nurses should strictly follow the oral care to the patients with the application of best evidence to promote the well being of the patient