Databases and Specific Journals

PICOT Question: In adult patients with chronic pain (P), how effective is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) (I) compared to pharmacological treatment (C) in reducing pain and improving quality of life (O) within six months (T)?

Essay:

For this week’s assignment, I explored the Wilkes University Academic Resource Center: Farley Library Nursing Research Guide to identify useful databases and journals for my literature review. The goal was to find high-quality, peer-reviewed sources that align with my PICOT question focusing on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as an intervention for chronic pain. Below, I detail the databases and specific journals I chose and explain the rationale behind my selection.

Databases:

1. CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature): CINAHL is a highly comprehensive database that covers nursing and allied health topics, making it an ideal resource for gathering literature on cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain. The database includes full-text articles, clinical trials, and systematic reviews, all crucial for evidence-based practice in nursing. I chose this database because it offers access to thousands of peer-reviewed journals, providing a wide scope of research specific to nursing and healthcare interventions like CBT. Additionally, it includes guidelines and case studies that could support my literature review on non-pharmacological interventions for pain management.
2. PubMed: PubMed is another key database that focuses on biomedical and life sciences research. It is known for its inclusion of clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, which are essential for evidence-based practice. PubMed’s wide array of articles on chronic pain management, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments like CBT, makes it a vital resource for exploring diverse perspectives on pain relief interventions. The search tools and filters in PubMed help in locating specific studies that address both long-term and short-term impacts of CBT on chronic pain, making it suitable for my time frame of six months in the PICOT question.
3. PsycINFO: PsycINFO is another critical database, particularly for psychological and behavioral studies. Since my intervention involves cognitive-behavioral therapy, PsycINFO is invaluable for accessing research on psychological approaches to pain management. It includes studies on mental health and pain perception, which could provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of CBT and its efficacy compared to pharmacological treatments. PsycINFO’s focus on behavioral science ensures that my literature review incorporates a thorough exploration of the psychological aspects of chronic pain.

Journals:

1. Pain Management Nursing (Journal of the American Society for Pain Management Nursing): This journal is directly relevant to my PICOT question because it focuses on nursing approaches to pain management. It includes peer-reviewed studies on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, offering articles on the application of CBT in pain relief. The journal’s focus on practical, evidence-based solutions aligns with my objective to explore how CBT can be effectively integrated into nursing care for chronic pain patients.
2. The Clinical Journal of Pain: The Clinical Journal of Pain publishes interdisciplinary research on all aspects of pain, including psychological and pharmacological treatment methods. This journal is especially helpful because it covers a broad range of topics related to chronic pain, offering a comprehensive understanding of the condition. The journal provides access to clinical trials and reviews that compare different treatment modalities, making it a valuable resource for my literature review on CBT versus pharmacological approaches.
3. Journal of Behavioral Medicine: The Journal of Behavioral Medicine focuses on the interactions between behavior, psychology, and medical treatments. Since CBT is a behavioral intervention, this journal offers a wealth of information on the effectiveness of psychological therapies for medical conditions like chronic pain. Articles in this journal explore the long-term impacts of behavioral interventions, helping to address the time frame component of my PICOT question.

Rationale for Choosing These Resources: I selected these databases and journals because they provide access to high-quality, peer-reviewed literature directly related to the fields of nursing, psychology, and chronic pain management. CINAHL and PubMed offer a broad range of healthcare-focused articles, including randomized controlled trials, which are vital for evaluating interventions in a clinical setting. PsycINFO, with its behavioral science focus, ensures that I can find in-depth research on cognitive-behavioral therapy.

The journals I selected—Pain Management Nursing, The Clinical Journal of Pain, and Journal of Behavioral Medicine—provide targeted, evidence-based research relevant to both nursing practice and interdisciplinary pain management. These journals ensure that my literature review will include diverse perspectives on how CBT can reduce pain and improve patients’ quality of life.

In conclusion, using these carefully selected databases and journals will enable me to conduct a thorough literature review, providing a robust foundation for understanding the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in managing chronic pain within the context of nursing practice.