Identify a clinical issue of interest that can form the basis of a clinical inquiry.

My clinical issue of interest is the effectiveness of implementing nurse-led initiatives in primary care settings to reduce sickle cell disease flare-ups. I identified four relevant peer-reviewed articles related to this topic by searching two databases in the Walden Library using the keywords “sickle cell” and “nurse-led initiatives.” My PICO(T) question that resulted from this search is: In adults with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), what is the effect of nurse-led interventions, compared with standard medical care, on reducing flare-ups?

In order to increase the rigor and effectiveness of my database search for this PICO(T) question, I would use additional filters such as age range, study population size, and geographical location when conducting a keyword search in order to narrow my results. Additionally, I could employ advanced searching techniques such as truncation symbols and Boolean operators (e.g., AND/OR/NOT) which would further refine my results by limiting irrelevant material. Finally, I could expand upon my existing list of sources by utilizing citation tracking software or journal indexes like Google Scholar in order to uncover more relevant references related to my research query (Gibaldi & Achtert 1984).

References
Gibaldi Jr., J., & Achtert WS (1984). MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: The Modern Language Association Of America