additional background information
additional background information
Respond in one or more of the following ways:
Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, and evidence.
Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own review of the literature in the Walden Library.
Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
Main Post
Because evidence-based practice (EBP) stems from scientific research, it is imperative that nurses not only be able to read and interpret the results of research studies; they must also have a sound understanding of the various methodologies utilized to gather, analyze, and interpret the data used within those studies. The design of the study, the number of participants, the data collection methods, all help to determine the relevancy of the research for nursing practice. For example, a large-scale, randomized control trial would more accurately measure the impact of hand-washing on infection control. But, a descriptive qualitative analysis would likely be a more effective research design to determine motivators or deterrents of hand-washing behavior. Polit and Beck (2017) maintain that quantitative nursing research studies primarily aim to establish causality. Philosophically speaking, causality is highly complex because most phenomena cannot be contributed to a single causative factor; rather, they are attributable to multiple, sometimes convoluting variables. Correlation while often compelling, does not equal causation, and a sound research design will be able to distinguish the difference (Polit & Beck, 2017).
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Rowe, Sperlich, Cameron, and Seng (2014) maintain that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder which develops after experiencing a psychologically traumatic event.
It is characterized by intrusive reminders of the event such as nightmares and flashbacks, avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, persistent negative cognitions and numbing of responses, and symptoms of anxiety, including hyper-vigilance, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and sleep disturbances. PTSD is associated with substantial distress and impairment in functioning. (Rowe, Sperlich, Cameron, and Seng para. 8, 2014)
Epidemiological evidence indicates that women are twice as likely to suffer from PTSD than men (Rowe, Sperlich, Cameron, and Seng, 2014). McGovern et al. (2015) assert that PTSD is more likely to affect individuals with co-occurring substance use disorder. Co-morbidity rates are significantly increased when patients suffer from both PTSD and substance use disorder (McGovern et al., 2015).
Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Design
A randomized control trial (RTC) is an experimental design in which subjects are randomized into distinct groups with the aim of isolating variables to make a comparative analysis and establish the efficacy of each variable. Controlled experiments are considered the gold standard for establishing cause and effect (Polit & Beck, 2017). I selected a single-blind RCT which analyzed treatment modalities for patients with PTSD and co-occurring substance use disorder. The study isolated and analyzed three treatment variables; standard care, integrated cognitive behavioral therapy plus standard care, and individual addiction counseling plus standard care. The results of this RCT determined that cognitive behavioral therapy was most effective for treating symptoms of PTSD. However, cognitive behavioral therapy and individual counseling were similarly effective for treating substance abuse disorder. Both cognitive behavioral therapy and individual counseling combined with standard care were superior to standardized care alone in treating PTSD symptoms and substance abuse (McGovern et al., 2015).
