NURS FPX 4030 Assessment 2 Determining the Credibility of Evidence and Resources

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX 4030 Making Evidence-Based Decisions

Prof. Name

Date

Determining the Credibility of Evidence and Resources

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection caused by bacteria or viral infection. The spectrum of disease ranges from mild cases to severe conditions among persons of all ages. Pneumonia causes over 540,000 emergency visits, 1.1 million hospitalizations and nearly 49,000 adult deaths annually in the United States (U.S) (McLaughlin et al., 2020). This is alarming for the elderly and those with weak immune systems because of the sudden onset and the possible severity of its complications.

Effective management is life-threatening in alleviating symptoms and preventing complications. It prevents readmission. This paper discusses the Evidence-based Practices (EBP) models that have been applied. This article focuses on the Iowa Model in providing healthcare professionals with the appropriate model to lead in executing current approaches, increasing diagnostic accuracy and improving treatment plans for pneumonia patients. 

Evidence-Based Methods for Managing Pneumonia

A critical quality and safety issue for patients with pneumonia is high re-admission rates. This is usually due to insufficient initial treatment and follow-up care when the patient leaves the hospital. It increases the risk of complications for the patients and the cost of treatment. An evidence-based approach offers a solution by delivering current strategies for early detection, appropriate antibiotic therapy and hands-on follow-up. Studies show that EBP and uniform treatment protocols reduce hospital readmissions, stay length and death rates (Faverio et al., 2020).

The advantage of EBP lies in its dependence on up-to-date scientific evidence. It permits healthcare staff to reduce care inconsistencies and improve the efficiency of interventions. A systemic review by Alessa et al. (2023), on 148 pneumonia patients found that evidence-based guidelines enhanced outcomes. The patients had higher cure rates (95% vs. 84%), reduced mortality (5% vs. 14%) and shorter hospital stays (6.5 days vs. 8 days). Incorporating EBP in pneumonia care reduces symptoms, prevents complications and accelerates recovery. Nurses use accessible databases such as PubMed, the Cochrane Library and MEDLINE to access current evidence on the epidemiology and evidence-based management strategies for pneumonia. 

Standards for Assessing the Credibility of Resources

When evaluating resources for credibility in pneumonia management, the CRAAP criteria (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose) serve as a strong outline. Currency is important as scientific guidelines and practices change swiftly. It makes recent publications more insightful of current standards. Relevance confirms the data aligns with specific clinical needs like the epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment of pneumonia. Authority proves the author’s qualifications and expertise in healthcare. It strengthens the reliability of the content. Accuracy highlights the significance of research-based, peer-reviewed data with appropriate references to guarantee reliability. Finally, Purpose evaluates the intent of the material. It safeguards it is useful and impartial rather than driven by self-interest.

Ruiz, M., Castón, Del, L., Carratalà, Fortún, Salavert, M., Cisneros, Aguado, Cruz, Ventura, A., Loeches, Dueñas, C., Tomás, C., Navarro, D., Oltra, R., Machuca, I., Cobo, J., Diego, J., Tiraboschi, J., & Abella, L. (2024). How can we optimize the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to pneumonia? Expert opinion-based recommendations. Enfermedades Infecciosas Y Microbiologia Clinica (English Ed), 42(8). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eimce.2024.07.001

This paper explores expert opinion-based recommendations for improving the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia. It focuses on streamlining clinical workflows and making timely and precise diagnoses through advanced tools such as biomarkers and imaging technologies. The review provides an inclusive overview of diagnostic methods, therapeutic strategies and potential directions for future research to improve patient safety and quality care. The authors support the execution of evidence-based guidelines and the promotion of antimicrobial stewardship initiatives. The article was published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2024. The study satisfies the CRAAP criteria for both currency and relevance. This makes it a credible resource for the latest pneumonia diagnosis and therapeutic management developments.

Credibility and Relevance of Evidence and Resources

Evaluating the credibility and relevance of evidence is vital to addressing the quality and safety issues associated with pneumonia care. Zade et al. (2021) emphasize the importance of accurate diagnosis because of the diverse etiologies of pneumonia and its significant impact on vulnerable populations. Their research categorizes pneumonia into Community-Acquired (CAP), Hospital-Acquired (HA) and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP).

It details the pathogens associated with each type to guide targeted treatment approaches. The paper underlines the unique challenges each kind of pneumonia imposes such as multidrug resistance in HAP and VAP and the wide spectrum of causal agents in CAP. This comprehensive review is a worthy resource for healthcare staff eager to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic practices while making them aware of the fluid nature of pneumonia’s causal pathogens.

The article by Loeches and Torres (2021) is another significant resource highlighting the pneumonia management strategies drawn by the American Thoracic Society (ATS). These guidelines offer strong, evidence-based approvals for diagnosing and treating pneumonia. It concentrates on timely diagnosis and the suitable use of antibiotic therapy. ATS guidelines are well-known for their credibility and serve as a standard for clinical care.

They offer uniform protocols that safeguard consistency and quality across healthcare delivery systems. The study by Loeches and Torres (2021) is a crucial tool for clinical practice. It incorporates EBP that directly improves healthcare delivery for pneumonia patients. The peer-reviewed article sheds light on evolving diagnostic progress that could expand existing ATS rules. These resources characterize foundational knowledge and pioneering advances. It trains healthcare experts to elevate pneumonia management.

Integration of the EBP Model

The integration of reliable evidence into an EBP model enhances the quality of patient care. The safety and accuracy of pneumonia diagnosis are improved. The Iowa Model of EBP is effective in dealing with pneumonia care. It seeks to encourage change within the clinical settings by focusing on systematic and current interventions (Liu et al., 2022). The model indicates important clinical challenges such as precise pneumonia diagnosis and management. It entails a comprehensive literature review from reliable sources such as PubMed, the Cochrane Library and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

This process guarantees that only the most updated and relevant information is taken. The Iowa Model can contribute toward the standardization of pneumonia’s diagnostic protocols. It tends to detect pneumonia early enough and avoids unnecessary antibiotics. Adopting strategies for pneumonia management from the ATS would enable healthcare workers to make informed decisions concerning effective diagnostic tests like chest X-rays and blood cultures which diagnose specific types of pneumonia. Loeches and Torres (2021) studied the structured approach of the Iowa model. This can be taken directly and applied to diagnosing and managing CAP.

The model helps identify problems like misdiagnosis or insufficient treatment and protects the execution of EBP in clinical practice. Educational interventions coupled with the model confirm that nursing experts follow proper diagnostic and treatment protocols. This leads to better diagnoses. It reduces readmission rates and extends patient outcomes in pneumonia management.

Conclusion

Integrating EBP in the management of pneumonia will improve patient safety and quality of care. It improves diagnostic accuracy and reduces readmissions. The Iowa Model allows healthcare staff to use current interventions based on innovative evidence. Resources such as the ATS rules help standardize care. It safeguards timely diagnostics and protects effective treatments. By integrating these approaches, healthcare experts can achieve better outcomes. It reduces treatment discrepancies and improves pneumonia care.

References

Alessa, M., Almangour, T. A., Alhassoun, A., Alajaji, I., Almangour, A., Alsalem, A., & Alhifany, A. A. (2023). Adherence to evidence-based guidelines for the management of pneumonia in a tertiary teaching hospital in Riyadh. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 31(8), 101678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2023.06.011 

Faverio, P., Compagnoni, M. M., Zoppa, M., Pesci, A., Cantarutti, A., Merlino, L., Luppi, F., & Corrao, G. (2020). Rehospitalization for pneumonia after first pneumonia admission: Incidence and predictors in a population-based cohort study. PLOS ONE, 15(6), e0235468. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235468

NURS FPX 4030 Assessment 2 Determining the Credibility of Evidence and Resources

Liu, Z.-Y., Wei, L., Ye, R.-C., Chen, J., Nie, D., Zhang, G., & Zhang, X.-P. (2022). Reducing the incidence of stroke-associated pneumonia: An evidence-based practice. BioMedCentral Neurology, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-022-02826-8 

Loeches, I., & Torres, A. (2021). New guidelines for severe community-acquired pneumonia. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, 27(3), 210–215. https://doi.org/10.1097/mcp.0000000000000760

McLaughlin, J. M., Khan, F. L., Thoburn, E. A., Isturiz, R. E., & Swerdlow, D. L. (2020). Rates of hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia among US adults: A systematic review. Vaccine, 38(4), 741–751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.10.101

Ruiz, M., Castón, Del, L., Carratalà, Fortún, Salavert, M., Cisneros, Aguado, Cruz, Ventura, A., Loeches, Dueñas, C., Tomás, C., Navarro, D., Oltra, R., Machuca, I., Cobo, J., Diego, J., Tiraboschi, J., & Abella, L. (2024). How can we optimize the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to pneumonia? Expert opinion-based recommendations. Enfermedades Infecciosas Y Microbiologia Clinica (English Ed ), 42(8). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eimce.2024.07.001

NURS FPX 4030 Assessment 2 Determining the Credibility of Evidence and Resources

Zade, P., Farahani, A., Riyahi, M., Laelabadi, A., Salami Asl, A., & Montazerghaem, S. (2021). A literature review on Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP), Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP). Gene, Cell and Tissue, In Press(In Press). https://doi.org/10.5812/gct.116869