The nurse serves on a committee to develop a clinical protocol to guide dressing changes for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)abscesses.Which is the most important type of evidence to consider when formulating this protocol?
A) Assertions from a panel of infectious disease physicians about existing protocols to treat this organism
B) A statistical review of experimental studies comparing various dressing change protocols and patient outcomes
C) A systematic review of all nursing and medical literature about the incidence of MRSA infection and various dressing change protocols
D) Studies identifying the correlations between variables such as dressing types and subsequent infection rates

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A statistical review of experimental studies is a meta-analysis and is the strongest level of evidence.Expert panel opinions are useful,but do not provide statistically significant evidence about interventions and results.A literature review is an initial step in developing a protocol or designing a study.Correlational studies are not as powerful as experimental studies.

The Nurse Serves on a Committee to Develop a Clinical