EBP Midterm

Research

A planned and systematic activity that generates new knowledge and/or discovery of solutions to problems or questions in the nursing profession.

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

The integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values to improve clinical outcomes.

Quality Improvement

Incorporates existing knowledge into process improvement activities using a systematic problem-solving approach that is data driven.

PICOT

A framework for developing clinical questions that includes Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time.

Quantitative Research

Research focused on measuring variables and analyzing numerical data to reveal patterns or test theories.

Qualitative Research

Research that explores multiple subjective realities through methods like interviews and observations, focusing on understanding experiences.

Barriers to EBP

Factors such as traditional practice and individual or organizational biases that hinder the implementation of evidence-based practice.

Evidence Hierarchy

A formal ranking of research evidence that indicates the reliability and strength of evidence for EBP.

Informed Consent

A process ensuring that research participants are adequately informed about the study and voluntarily agree to participate.

Confidentiality

The ethical principle of keeping participant information private in research studies.

Vulnerable Populations

Groups that may have difficulty giving informed consent, such as children, pregnant women, and individuals with diminished autonomy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A group that reviews research proposals to ensure ethical standards and protection of human subjects.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated or changed to observe its effect on the dependent variable in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The outcome or variable being measured in an experiment to determine the effect of the independent variable.

Operational Definition

A definition that specifies how a variable will be measured or identified in a study.

Metaparadigm of Nursing

The four core concepts of nursing: Person, Health, Environment, and Nursing, that provide a framework for nursing practice.

Causality

The relationship where one variable directly affects another, established through temporal sequence and strong correlation.

Experimental Design

A research design that includes manipulation, randomization, and control groups to test cause-and-effect relationships.

Quasi-Experimental Design

A design that manipulates an independent variable but lacks randomization or control groups.

Non-Experimental Design

A research design that does not involve manipulation of variables; often observational.

Descriptive Epidemiology

A branch of epidemiology that describes the distribution of health outcomes in populations.

Analytic Epidemiology

A branch of epidemiology that tests hypotheses about associations between exposures and health outcomes.

Sensitivity

The ability of a test to correctly identify individuals with a disease through a positive test result.

Specificity

The ability of a test to correctly identify individuals without a disease through a negative test result.

Positive Predictive Value

The probability that someone who tests positive for a disease actually has the disease.