NR 505 Week 2 PICOT Worksheet Assignment
Student Name
Chamberlain University
NR-505: Advanced Research Methods: Evidence-Based Practice
Prof. Name
Date
NR 505 Week 2 PICOT Worksheet Assignment
Identification of the Practice Issue
My MSN specialty track is Nurse Executive, which emphasizes equipping healthcare teams with the competencies and resources necessary to provide safe, high-quality, and evidence-based patient care. A pressing health issue that I selected for my PICOT question is the global challenge of influenza. Despite being preventable through vaccines, influenza continues to affect millions of individuals worldwide and remains a significant public health concern.
Even though influenza vaccines are readily available each year, many people either refuse or neglect to get vaccinated, leading to elevated infection rates and preventable hospitalizations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2022), influenza affects an estimated 41 million Americans annually, causing approximately 140,000 hospitalizations and over 120,000 deaths. Vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with chronic illnesses bear the highest risk of severe complications.
Evidence-based studies have consistently shown that vaccination is one of the most effective methods of reducing both the incidence and severity of influenza. Research confirms that vaccines not only protect the individual but also provide community-wide benefits by reducing transmission (Godoy et al., 2018). Therefore, addressing vaccine hesitancy and improving vaccination coverage remains a key public health priority.
Significance of the Practice Issue
Nurses consistently rank as the most trusted healthcare professionals due to their close, ongoing interactions with patients. This trust positions them as central advocates in promoting public health interventions, including influenza vaccination campaigns.
Nurses are instrumental in:
- Patient education: They provide clear information about the importance, safety, and effectiveness of vaccines, directly addressing misinformation.
- Vaccine administration: Nurses ensure proper vaccine storage, handling, administration, and monitoring for potential adverse effects.
- Follow-up care: They manage post-vaccination assessments, answer patient concerns, and coordinate with other healthcare professionals to ensure safety and adherence.
Importantly, effective nurse–patient communication is key to reducing vaccine hesitancy. Patients who receive thorough explanations from nurses about how influenza vaccination prevents severe illness are more likely to make informed, positive decisions about immunization (Keske et al., 2020).
By increasing influenza vaccination uptake, nurses not only protect at-risk populations but also advance broader healthcare goals, including reducing preventable suffering, improving population health, and alleviating pressure on healthcare systems.
Discussion of the PICOT Elements
The PICOT framework helps organize the clinical question in a systematic way:
| PICOT Element | Description |
|---|---|
| P (Population) | Young adults aged 18–30 years who have not received the influenza vaccine. This group plays a role in transmitting the virus to high-risk populations such as children, older adults, and individuals with chronic conditions. |
| I (Intervention) | Administration of the annual influenza vaccine to increase vaccination rates in this population. |
| C (Comparison) | Comparing rates of influenza-related morbidity between vaccinated and unvaccinated young adults during peak flu season. |
| O (Outcome) | Reduction in influenza infection and morbidity rates among vaccinated individuals aged 18–30 compared to their unvaccinated counterparts. |
| T (Timeframe) | A period of 6–8 weeks during the peak influenza season, with non-probability sampling applied to select participants. |
PICOT Statement (Narrative)
In young adults aged 18–30 years, does receiving the influenza vaccine, compared to those who remain unvaccinated, reduce morbidity rates during the peak flu season when guided and supported by nurses?
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Disease burden of flu. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html
Godoy, P., Romero, A., Soldevila, N., Torner, N., Jané, M., Martínez, A., … & Domínguez, A. (2018). Influenza vaccine effectiveness in reducing severe outcomes over six influenza seasons, a case-case analysis, Spain, 2010/11 to 2015/16. Eurosurveillance, 23(43), 1700732. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.43.1700732
NR 505 Week 2 PICOT Worksheet Assignment
Keske, Ş., Mutters, N. T., Tsioutis, C., & Ergönül, Ö. (2020). Influenza vaccination among infection control teams: A EUCIC survey prior to COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine, 38(52), 8357-8361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.11.003
Roberts, D. (2018). Influenza vaccines: How effective are they? Evidently Cochrane. https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/influenza-vaccines-how-effective-are-they