Week 6 Evidence Synthesis 2020 Unread Replies 27

Week 6 Evidence Synthesis2020 Unread Replies2727 Repliescritique Th

Critique the below evidence synthesis exemplar to address the following. Patient falls with injury and fall prevention remain complex phenomena in the acute care setting as well as a major challenge for healthcare professionals (Gygax Spicer, 2017). Patient falls are considered one of the leading adverse events occurring in acute care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes, with the detrimental impact to the patient ranging from mild to severe bruising, fractures, trauma, and even death (de Medeiros Araàºjo et al., 2017). Falls are common phenomena in older adults, with roughly one out of three people age 65 years and older who suffers from at least one fall per year due to multiple factors including environmental, social, and physiological factors either alone or in conjunction (Gygax Spicer, 2017).

The etiology is that patients are attempting to get out of bed without assistance from nursing staff. Several of the causative factors include illness, impulsiveness, urgency, medications, or being in an unfamiliar environment. Lastly, there has been an increase in the amount of turnover in staffing, thus reducing the amount of available nursing staff in the practice setting. Does the author clearly identify the scope of the evidence synthesis? Explain your rationale. · Are strong paraphrased sentences included that are supported by contemporary sources of research evidence? Explain your rationale. · Are the facts related to the practice problem presented in an objective manner? Explain your rationale. · Does the author use sources to support ideas and claims, and not the other way around? Explain your rationale. · Based on your appraisal, is this exemplar a true synthesis of the evidence? Or is it a summary of the evidence? Explain your rationale.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The presented evidence synthesis addresses the important issue of patient falls and fall prevention within acute care settings. Recognizing falls as a significant patient safety concern, the synthesis correctly identifies the scope by discussing the prevalence, impact, and contributing factors associated with falls among older adults. The inclusion of statistics about fall rates and the associated injuries demonstrates an understanding of the scope of the problem, emphasizing its relevance for healthcare professionals aiming to develop effective prevention strategies.

Evaluation of Scope and Clarity

The author clearly delineates the scope by highlighting that patient falls are a major adverse event in acute care environments, such as hospitals and nursing homes. The mention of the impact severity—ranging from bruises to death—provides a comprehensive picture of the problem's magnitude. However, the synthesis could benefit from explicitly stating the specific population focus—namely, older adults—within the context of fall risks, which it partially addresses but could expand upon for clarity. Overall, the scope is adequately defined but might be strengthened by specifying particular settings, patient groups, or interventions considered.

Use of Contemporary, Supported Paraphrased Sentences

The synthesis utilizes paraphrased sentences that are grounded in contemporary sources, evidenced by citations from recent studies such as Gygax Spicer (2017) and de Medeiros Araàºjo et al. (2017). These sources support claims regarding fall prevalence and severity, demonstrating an effort to incorporate current research findings. Nevertheless, some paraphrases are somewhat superficial, lacking depth or critical engagement with the evidence, which diminishes their strength. Incorporating more recent and high-quality studies could further reinforce the synthesis and provide a more nuanced understanding of the problem.

Objectivity and Presentation of Facts

The facts are presented objectively, focusing on identifiable issues such as the common causes of patient falls, including environmental factors and staffing challenges. The tone remains neutral, avoiding emotional language or unsupported opinions. This objectivity ensures that the synthesis maintains academic credibility, although the addition of statistical data or evidence-based risk factors could enhance objectivity and provide clearer context for the reader.

Support of Ideas and Claims by Sources

The author employs sources to substantiate claims, particularly citing recent research to support the prevalence and causative factors of falls. Yet, there appears to be a tendency to present facts without critically engaging with conflicting evidence or elaborating on how the cited sources directly inform practice or intervention strategies. The synthesis relies on the sources to back up assertions but would benefit from integrating findings more interpretively, demonstrating synthesis rather than mere summarization.

Synthesizing vs. Summarizing Evidence

Based on the provided excerpt, the evidence is primarily summarized rather than synthesized. The author compiles relevant facts and statistics, but there is limited discussion on how these pieces of evidence interrelate or inform each other to provide a comprehensive understanding of fall prevention. Effective synthesis requires integrating multiple sources to identify patterns, gaps, or consensus in the literature—an aspect that appears underdeveloped here. Therefore, this exemplar functions more as a summary of existing research rather than a true synthesis that critically interprets and integrates evidence to inform practice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the evidence synthesis addresses a relevant and complex practice issue with appropriate scope. It employs recent sources that support its claims, maintains an objective tone, and provides a solid foundation of facts. However, improvements could include clearer delineation of the specific population, deeper critical engagement with the evidence, and a more integrated approach to synthesizing sources. Transitioning from summary to synthesis would enhance the utility of this analysis in informing evidence-based fall prevention strategies in acute care settings.

References

• Gygax Spicer, S. (2017). Fall prevention in older adults: Strategies and challenges. Journal of Elderly Care Research, 43(2), 113-128.
• de Medeiros Araújo, M., Sousa, A., Oliveira, T., & Almeida, L. (2017). Epidemiology of falls among older adults in hospital settings. Geriatric Nursing, 38, 432-438.
• Oliver, D., Healey, F., & Haines, T. P. (2010). Preventing falls and fall-related injuries in hospitals. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 26(4), 645-692.
• Sherrington, C., Tiedemann, A., Fairhall, N., et al. (2019). Exercise for preventing falls in older adults: An updated review. Sports Medicine, 49(5), 725-739.
• Miake-Lye, I. M., Hempel, S., Shanman, R., et al. (2013). Fall Prevention Strategies in Acute Care Hospitals. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
• Ambrose, A. F., Paul, C. M., & Hausdorff, J. M. (2013). Risk factors for falls among older adults: A review of the literature. Reviews in Geriatric Medicine, 2(1), 67-79.
• Lipton, J., & Bonk, S. (2020). Staffing Patterns and Fall Rates in Hospitals. Healthcare Management Review, 45(3), 136-143.
• Huang, C., Lee, L., & Kang, J. (2018). Environmental factors contributing to falls in healthcare facilities. Safety Science, 102, 196-203.
• Schmidt, M., & Kolar, P. (2019). Involving patients in fall prevention strategies. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare, 16(4), 23-27.
• Bunn, F., Dickinson, A., & MacLennan, G. (2018). Evidence-based strategies for fall prevention. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9, CD012245.