JOURNAL
Consider the purpose and process of meta-analysis or metasynthesis and how it informs evidence-based practice. As you respond, reflect on the following:
Use header for each section
1. What is the purpose and the process in performing a metasynthesis or a meta-analysis?
2. Why is the process essential in performing a metasynthesis or a meta-analysis?
3. How do recommendations made on the basis of these meta-analyses work to improve quality of care?
Research Integration and Synthesis
Polit and Beck (2021) state, EBP “incorporates three elements: best evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preference and values” (p. 310).
A systematic review is a process that systematically integrates evidence-based research, grounded on a specific research question, using sampling and data collection procedures outlined in a protocol.
Systematic review approach is at the core of meta-analysis. When completing the review, it is essential that all relevant studies are examined and included.
What is the importance and purpose of meta-analysis? The purpose is a statistical method of combining data from two or more randomized control trials. The meta-analysis is most often used to evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare interventions.
Remember the validity of the meta-analysis depends on the quality of the systematic review on which the meta-analysis is built. Therefore, a high-quality meta-analysis objective includes having an exhaustive search for all pertinent studies (Polit & Beck, 2021).
Interpretation of Study Results
Now that there is an understanding of different studies conducted through research, how are these results interpreted? All results from studies will be summarized in the results section of a research article.
Researchers will then examine their interpretations of the study in the discussion section (Polit and Beck, 2021). Remember that researchers are not completely objective in the interpretation, therefore developing your own interpretations is essential.
While reading conclusion and summary sections of a journal article, researchers should offer an interpretation of their findings and discuss limitations of the study. It is important that when critiquing a study, a personal interpretation should also be developed and compared and contrasted to the author’s work.
Application of Study Results
Application is a key portion in the process of summarizing evidence. When reflecting on research studies, it is important to remember that the goal is to recommend interventions. Nurse consumers of research should always consider the potential for research translation into practice.
Nurses are in an ideal position to determine the implications for evidence-based practice and future research to be considered. Bedside nurses are the key to addressing any gaps present in practice. Applying evidence-based practice is essential when looking at future research, for example, where evidence is shown to be lacking.