Question

Nurses in a community clinic are conducting an EBP project focused on improving the outcomes of children with asthma. The PICO question asked by the nurses is "In school-aged children, does the use of an electronic gaming education module versus educational book improve the usage of inhalers?" In the question, what is the "O"? A. School-aged children B. Educational book C. Use of inhalers D. Electronic gaming education

Short answer

C. Use of inhalers

Step-by-step solution

Identify the PICO components

The PICO framework is a tool that helps in organizing and focusing clinical research questions. PICO stands for Population/Patient problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. In this question, the 'O' stands for Outcome.

Determine the Outcome in the PICO question

Review the PICO question to find what is being measured or what effect the interventions are supposed to have. The Outcome is the effect of the interventions on the population.

Identify the Outcome in the given PICO question

In the provided PICO question, the Outcome is the improvement in the usage of inhalers among school-aged children, which is the effect the nurses are aiming to measure.

Key concepts

Evidence-Based Practice

In the healthcare field, Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), is a conscientious approach that amalgamates the best available research, clinical expertise, and patient values to guide decision-making in patient care. It is a process through which practitioners use the most recent and credible evidence to inform their clinical decisions, ensuring that patients receive optimal care.

EBP is critical in nursing as it empowers nurses to provide high-quality patient care while also keeping abreast of the rapid changes in healthcare knowledge and technology. The process of EBP includes formulating a clear clinical question, searching for the relevant evidence, evaluating the quality and applicability of that evidence, and integrating it into clinical decision-making. The use of the PICO framework to form a clinical research question is an integral part of this process.

Clinical Research Question

A clinical research question is a question posed in a format that can be answered through research and evidence gathering. It forms the foundation for the scientific inquiry that underpins EBP. The PICO framework is an excellent tool for developing a focused clinical question that is relevant and researchable.

In the PICO framework:

• P stands for patient, population, or problem;
• I stands for intervention;
• C is for comparison or control;
• O signifies the outcome.

For example, in the exercise presented, the research question was designed to investigate whether electronic gaming modules are more effective than educational books at improving inhaler usage in school-aged children. Focusing on such specific questions ensures that research is targeted and results can have real-world applicability.

Outcome Measurement

In the realm of EBP, outcome measurement refers to the process of quantifying the effects of healthcare interventions or the progress towards expected health outcomes. It involves selecting relevant and reliable data that can demonstrate whether the intervention has achieved its intended result.

Importance of Outcome Measurement

The measurement of outcomes is crucial, as it objectively determines the efficacy of clinical interventions. It's essential to choose outcomes that are meaningful both to the providers and the patients, such as patient-reported outcome measures or clinical indicators like blood pressure readings.

In the exercise regarding the success of an educational gaming module versus an educational book, the outcome is the improved usage of inhalers among school-aged children. The ability to measure this outcome accurately allows practitioners to draw meaningful conclusions about the intervention's effectiveness, which can shape future patient education strategies.