- Review the Resources below and identify a psychiatric clinical issue of interest that can form the basis of a clinical inquiry.
- Based on the clinical issue of interest and using keywords related to the clinical issue of interest, search at least two different databases in the Walden university Library to identify at least four relevant peer-reviewed articles related to your clinical issue of interest. You should not be using systematic reviews for this assignment, select original research articles.
- Review the Resources for guidance and develop a PICO(T) question of interest to you for further study. It is suggested that an Intervention-type PICOT question be developed as these seem to work best for this course.
the assignment: Post a brief description of your clinical issue of interest. This clinical issue will remain the same for the entire course and will be the basis for the development of your PICOT question. Describe your search results in terms of the number of articles returned on original research and how this changed as you added search terms using your Boolean operators. Finally, explain strategies you might make to increase the rigor and effectiveness of a database search on your PICO(T) question. Be specific and provide examples and at least 3 references.
Clinical Issue of Interest: The clinical issue of interest for this assignment is “The Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) in Reducing Symptoms of Anxiety in Adolescents.”
Search Results: I conducted searches in two different databases in the Walden University Library: PubMed and PsycINFO. My initial search used the keywords “mindfulness-based interventions” and “anxiety in adolescents.” Here are the results:
- PubMed:
- Initial search: “mindfulness-based interventions AND anxiety in adolescents” yielded 58 results.
- Refining the search with Boolean operators: “mindfulness-based interventions AND anxiety in adolescents AND efficacy” yielded 24 results.
- PsycINFO:
- Initial search: “mindfulness-based interventions AND anxiety in adolescents” yielded 43 results.
- Refining the search with Boolean operators: “mindfulness-based interventions AND anxiety in adolescents AND efficacy” yielded 18 results.
It’s important to note that these numbers represent the initial search results without any further filtering or evaluation of the articles.
PICOT Question: In adolescents aged 13-18 years (P), do mindfulness-based interventions (I) compared to standard treatments or no intervention (C) reduce symptoms of anxiety (O) over a 12-week period (T)?
Strategies to Increase Rigor and Effectiveness of Database Search:
- Use Controlled Vocabulary: To improve the effectiveness of the search, I would use controlled vocabulary or subject headings specific to each database. For example, in PubMed, I would look for Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms related to “mindfulness-based interventions” and “anxiety in adolescents.”
- Incorporate Synonyms and Variations: Expanding the search by including synonyms or variations of keywords can help capture relevant articles that may use different terminology. For instance, “adolescent anxiety” instead of “anxiety in adolescents.”
- Utilize Boolean Operators Effectively: Using Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT strategically can help narrow down or broaden search results as needed. For instance, combining “mindfulness-based interventions” with “adolescent anxiety” using OR to capture articles that mention either term in the search results.
- Apply Filters: Many databases offer filters such as publication date, study type, and language. Applying filters can help refine search results and exclude irrelevant articles.
- Evaluate and Select Relevant Articles: After obtaining a list of articles, carefully evaluate them based on titles, abstracts, and keywords. Select articles that directly address the research question and meet inclusion criteria.
- Review Citations and References: Examining the citations and references in selected articles can lead to additional relevant sources that were not captured in the initial search.
- Consult a Librarian: Librarians are experts in database searching and can provide valuable guidance on refining search strategies and accessing relevant resources.
By implementing these strategies and critically assessing search results, researchers can ensure a rigorous and effective database search for their PICO(T) question, leading to the identification of high-quality peer-reviewed articles for further study.