1. A nurse is conducting a systematic review of randomized

controlled trials on the effectiveness of acupuncture for

chronic pain. She searches several databases and finds 10

relevant studies. She then assesses the quality of each study

using a standardized tool. What is the next step in her

systematic review process?

a) Summarize the results of each study in a table

b) Perform a meta-analysis to combine the results of the

studies

c) Write a conclusion based on the findings of the studies

d) *Synthesize the findings of the studies and identify any

gaps or inconsistencies*

Rationale: The next step after assessing the quality of the

studies is to synthesize the findings and identify any gaps

or inconsistencies that may affect the validity or

generalizability of the results. A meta-analysis is a

statistical technique that can be used to synthesize the

findings, but it is not always appropriate or feasible. A

summary table and a conclusion are part of the final report,

but they are not the next step in the process.

2. A nurse is caring for a patient with diabetes who has a

foot ulcer. She wants to use an evidence-based practice

guideline to inform her wound care. She searches online

and finds a guideline from a reputable source that was

published two years ago. What should she do before

applying the guideline to her patient?

a) *Appraise the guideline for its quality, relevance, and

applicability*