· Page Length: 3-4 pages Excluding Title and Reference pages

· The paper will include the following:

§ Clinical Question

§ Group Research Question and in PICOT format

§ Purpose of your paper

§ Search Strategy

§ Search terms

§ Databases used: Chamberlain Database

§ Refinement decisions made

§ Identification of one most relevant articles and why chosen

§ Levels of Evidence

§ Type of question asked

§ Best evidence found to answer question

§ Format

§ Correct grammar and spelling

§ Use of headings for each section

§ Use of APA format (sixth edition)

· Required to write the paper based on PAPER FORMAT in page 2

· Refers to Grading Rubric in page 3

  

INDIVIDUAL TOPIC SEARCH STRATEGY (ITSS) PAPER FORMAT 

CLINICAL QUESTION

Research Question

· Accurately and clearly states your group’s research question as your group formulated using PICO format.

Purpose of Paper

· Describe the purpose of your topic search strategy (ITSS) paper.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Search Terms

· List all terms you used to search for your articles (i.e. breast cancer, screening, mammography, intervention, assessment, influencing factors….etc.)

Library Databases

· List Chamberlain library database you used (i.e. EBSCO, Medline, OVID, PubMed….etc.)

· Google search engine is NOT the library database

Availability of Articles

· How many research articles were available to answer your group research question?

§ Provide numbers of articles, NOT just saying “plenty, sufficient, many…etc.

Refinement Decisions

Changed Decision

· What decision(s) have you changed from your original search strategies? (i.e. peer-review, within last 5 years, primary data article, full-text….etc.) 

Rationale for Changed Decision

· What was your rationale for your decision to change from original search strategies?

Availability of Articles

· How many research articles were available to answer your group research question after refinement decision?  

§ Provide numbers of articles, NOT just saying “plenty, sufficient, many…etc.

FINAL ARTICLES

Final Decision

Selection of Relevant Articles

· Describe decisions you made to specifically select 1 PRIMARY DATA ARTICLE as relevant for answering your group Research Question and for reviewing/analyzing for Analyzing Published Research Article paper.

Levels of Evidence

Topic Addressed 

· Describe how your article addresses the topic (i.e. therapy, prognosis, risk factors, assessments, measurement tools, meaning….etc) (see handout)

Study Type

· Identify study type of article(s): Quantitative, Qualitative, Descriptive, or Mixed-Method Study 

Level of Evidence: Evidence Level Pyramid

· Identify and describe the level of evidence based on Evidence Level/Hierarchy Pyramid 

· Refers to Handout (Quick Guide to Designs in an Evidence Hierarchy)

SUMMARY

· Summarize your overall article search processes/procedures.