Comprehensive Systematic Review for Advanced Nursing Practice

In an age of rapidly expanding knowledge, it is crucial for health professionals to stay abreast of the most current evidence-based information when making clinical decisions. This textbook is specifically designed to meet the objectives of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) competency that relates to "Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice." It provides the knowledge and skills necessary for DNP students, faculty and advanced practice nurses to conduct a comprehensive systematic review (CSR). The text sets forth a rigorous, step-by-step approach to the process of conducting a literature search, including both quantitative and qualitative studies, as well as "grey" literature. It describes how to extract and synthesize the most relevant data, how to integrate systematic reviews into practice, and how to disseminate the results. The volume begins by addressing the basic concepts of systematic reviews and their relationship to clinical practice and policy, before delineating the systematic steps of this process along with the development of a systematic review proposal and clinical question. The book then describes how to find and select the best available evidence and explores specific types of systematic reviews, including experimental, observational, and economic evidence, and explores the current and future use of the process. End-of-chapter application exercises, questions for review, objectives, summary points, and references facilitate learning. Mastery of the CSR process and application of the resultant evidential summaries will be of utmost benefit to nursing practitioners seeking to provide care according to the most current evidence-based knowledge.