For nurses, there is a constant need to stay informed about the current evidence to inform the choices they make. Usually, strategies to find the best available evidence include monitoring articles in peer-reviewed journals and participating in professional forums and conferences. However, the fact that an article was published in a scientific journal is not a good indicator of its credibility. Usually, it takes both time and expertise for a nurse to distinguish between non-reliable evidence and high-quality and trustworthy one.
When critically appraising the evidence, a nurse should pay attention to several issues. Firstly, research should be up-to-date, which means it should be published within the last five years. Secondly, evidence type should be chosen depending on the aim which nurses pursue in their practice. For example, if there is a need to integrate evidence-based practices to deal with the problem of patient safety, it is important to focus on quantitative research with the first evidence level to ensure that its findings have high quality.
Thirdly, the methodology of research should be considered, which includes assessment of the sample, sample size, and setting. Fourthly, analysis and interpretation of research findings should be evaluated based on rational use of statistical methods and tools. Fifthly, strengths of research, such as robust study design and credibility of peer-reviewed articles, should be assessed. Sixthly, limitations of a study, including but not limited to low generalizability of findings and a small number of participants, need to be taken into account. Only after all of these factors have been appraised can conclusions be made whether the given evidence may be integrated into healthcare practice.