Introduction: Identification and Analysis of Credible Evidence When Applying Evidence-Based Practices
For healthcare service provision to be adequate, nurses must utilize evidence-based practices. By incorporating well-formulated interventions, nurses can provide quality care in a manner that is both patients centered and safe. Withdrawal syndrome is an effect that occurs when an individual dependent on drugs such as alcohol decreases their consumption or stops drinking. This effect begins three to six hours after the last intake and progresses for days (Elliott et al., 2019). The symptoms of this syndrome can range from mild to severe headaches. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), when severe, can lead to withdrawal delirium, which involves hospitalization followed by mechanical ventilation, sedation, and intubation. While considering these factors, medical practitioners should use evidence-based practice to care for, assess and manage these patients.
Factors To Consider When Determining Credibility
Specific standards should be considered when determining the credibility of resources. The Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose (CRAAP) test permits health care providers to establish a source’s purpose, authority, relevance, accuracy, and currency. When determining the credibility of a source, its currency is selected first. The currency test is conducted to ensure that the reference is up to date and is not more than five years old. When determining the credibility of a journal or a website, factors such as the author, when the source was published, and where it is indexed should be considered.
The second criterion examined is the source’s relevance to the topic. A relevant source contains information focused on answering the research question (Kilcrease, 2021). For instance, research on peer-reviewed academic databases such as research gate and PubMed Central provides relevant articles that conform to the study. In addition, a source such as the “Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: diagnostic and therapeutic methods” (Attilia et al., 2018) is relevant to the topic since it focuses on how AWS is diagnosed and treated. When dealing with scholarly sources, the abstract should be used to identify their relevance to the topic. The third factor considered is accuracy which focuses on examining the truthfulness of a source. Some key factors to consider when evaluating the sources’ accuracy are indexing status, peer-reviewed articles, and the editorial board (M. Suiter & C. Sarli, 2019). The Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association is a resource website that assists in determining the accuracy of journal articles.
In the fourth place is the determination of authority of the source, which focuses on ensuring that the author of the source has documentation, experience, and knowledge on the topic. According to the Healey Library of the University of Massachusetts website, the bibliography of the sources is the best place to determine the authority of the authors. As for website research, the sponsors of these websites should help determine whether the authority of the sources is valid or not. The fifth criteria in assessing the credibility of a source are its purpose which focuses on establishing if the main aim of the source is to persuade or inform (Kilcrease, 2021). For instance, a source written by a teacher teaching anatomy is less credible when compared to that reported by a medical doctor with more than ten years of experience concerning the same topic. Additionally, a source written concerning alcohol dependence in 2001 is less credible than that reported in 2021 on the same subject.
Analysis of Resources
This section will analyze the relevance and credibility of resources on the effects of withdrawal syndrome. The first resource to be analyzed is “Caring for the Hospitalized Patients with Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome” by Elliott (2019). This source was written in 2019, meaning it is less than five years old, ensuring its currency. The source is also related to alcohol withdrawal syndrome since it focuses on the hospitalization of individuals suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome; thus, the source is relevant to the topic. Elliot (2019) ensures its credibility by using percentages and statistics to explain the syndrome’s extent and seriousness. Other credible institutions, such as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, provide statistics. In maintaining its credibility, the source also uses data on assessment tools such as the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol to assess the seriousness of the symptoms and information concerning treatments. The source’s author is a certified psychiatrist for critical care and oncology in the nursing department in the clinical center in Bethesda at the National Institute of Health. This shows that the author has the authority to participate in matters concerning health.
Another source is the “Alcohol Withdrawal” (K. Newman et al., 2021) article from the National Library of Medicine database. This article is conversant with the currency since it was lastly updated in 2021, within five years. The article has a reference section that acknowledges the authority of the sources. It is also published on the National Library of Medicine database, which grants authority. This article is relevant to the study because it focuses on Alcohol Withdrawal which is vital to the topic. The purpose of this article corresponds to the study since the aim is to review the evaluation of alcohol withdrawal conditions. Considering that this article is peer-reviewed and has a valid indexing status, the accuracy of the information is conversant to the study.
Integrating Credible Evidence
The LOWA model is used to assist nurses in making the correct decisions in providing quality health care. This evidence-based model ensures that nurses do not make mistakes while delivering healthcare services to hospitalized patients. According to Chiwaula et al. (2021), the system has five condensed and clear steps: identifying the issue, critiquing available research, designing evidence-based changes in practice, integrating and sustaining the difference, and dispersing the results. This model can also be utilized to aid nurses in determining the appropriate treatments for patients suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The approach or model can also be used in helping nurses quickly detect early symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome before it becomes severe, producing improved patient outcomes.
Conclusion
Drug dependence is an issue that many people struggle with. Nonetheless, deciding to stop using drugs is another issue that has left many people worse than they were when using them. In assisting those individuals who choose to quit drugs such as alcohol, health caregivers must come up with various ways such as evidence-based practices. This approach helps improve the quality of health care for individuals suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The CRAAP test permits healthcare givers to assess the credibility of different sources. Evidence-based practices and sources can be utilized in the LOWA system of evidence-based practice to improve further specific patient outcomes and aid nurses in providing quality health care.
References
Attilia, F., Perciballi, R., Rotondo, C., Capriglione, I., Iannuzzi, S., & Attilia, M. et al. (2018). Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Dx.doi.org. Web.
Chiwaula, C., Kanjakaya, P., Chipeta, D., Chikatipwa, A., Kalimbuka, T., & Zyambo, L. et al. (2021). Introducing evidence-based practice in nursing care delivery, utilizing the Iowa model in intensive care unit at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Malawi.International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 14, 100272. Web.
Elliott, D. (2019). Caring for hospitalized patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome.Nursing Critical Care, 14(5), 18-30. Web.
K. Newman, R., A. Stobart Gallagher, M., & E. Gomez, A. (2021). Alcohol Withdrawal.National Library of Medicine. Web.
Kilcrease, B. (2021). Evaluating sources with the CRAAP test.Falsehood and Fallacy, PP.47-74. Web.
M. Suiter, A., & C. Sarli, C. (2019). Selecting a Journal for Publication: Criteria to Consider.National Library of Medicine, 116(6), 461–465. Web.