Question for Research/CAP project

[whyohwhy]

Hello all,

I need help with my research/cap stone project. Essentially, I need to first form a "PICOT" question. For those that don't know. That is simply an acronym for the way to phrase your research question. P = population, I = intervention, = c = control, o = outcome, and t = time. An example question would be, In adults (P), how does Metoprolol (I), compared to propranolol ©, affect blood pressure (O)??

That isn't my research question above, but just an example of how to use the "PICOT" format.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I developed a PICOT question and could not find any research at all!!

So now I am looking for meta-analyses that already exist on a topic and am planning to use that one.

My questions are as follows:

1) Can I formulate the same or slightly different PICOT question based off a meta-analyses that already exists?

2) If I'm including a meta-analyses in my paper as part of the research, why would I include other RCTs (I need 8 resources)? Wouldn't the RCTs already be in the results of the meta-analysis most likely?

That's it!

Thanks for reading and I really appreciate the help! I really bombed this the first time around, so any advice would really help! Thank you....

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Yes, you can use the same or similar questions to those you are finding in research. You should also consult other articles/sources on the subject. Your PICO paper is essentially your own meta-analysis of the information you find.

You can use the meta-analysis as a source, but it's always better to cite directly from the original study. A trick I learned in school was to find a meta analysis of your subject and go to the resources section. Then look up the articles that were cited in the meta-analysis and use those individual sources for your paper.

[whyohwhy]

Yes, you can use the same or similar questions to those you are finding in research. You should also consult other articles/sources on the subject. Your PICO paper is essentially your own meta-analysis of the information you find.

You can use the meta-analysis as a source, but it's always better to cite directly from the original study. A trick I learned in school was to find a meta analysis of your subject and go to the resources section. Then look up the articles that were cited in the meta-analysis and use those individual sources for your paper.

Thanks! So I can find a meta-analysis and use that question. That will make things easier. However, should I reference or use that meta-analysis in the paper itself? I'm supposed to analyze the research articles in tables. Or should I just only cite the best RCTs the meta-analysis uses??

Thanks!

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Thanks! So I can find a meta-analysis and use that question. That will make things easier. However, should I reference or use that meta-analysis in the paper itself? I'm supposed to analyze the research articles in tables. Or should I just only cite the best RCTs the meta-analysis uses??

Thanks!

Really? Is an internet discussion forum an acceptable reference tool?

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Really? Is an internet discussion forum an acceptable reference tool?

That is not at all what she was suggesting.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Thanks! So I can find a meta-analysis and use that question. That will make things easier. However, should I reference or use that meta-analysis in the paper itself? I'm supposed to analyze the research articles in tables. Or should I just only cite the best RCTs the meta-analysis uses??

Thanks!

If the meta-analysis offers data or conclusions that you want to reference, then cite the meta-analysis. Otherwise cute the information from the original source.