Contact ET @ etorres@hpu.edu  

source: The University of Texas at Austin

 

Evidence-Based Practice Steps:

 

  • ASK - Convert the need for information into a focused question. Consider using the Client Oriented Practical Evidence Search (COPES) framework to develop your question and create potential key terms to search with.

 

  • ACQUIRE - Track down the best evidence with which to answer that question. Search in multiple databases objectively and effectively.

 

  • APPRAISE - Critically  appraise the evidence for its validity, impact, and applicability. Keep track of the literature and also appraise and revise your search strategy. 

 

ASK: Client Oriented Practical Evidence Search (COPES)

 

COPES stands for Client-Oriented Practical Evidence Search.  The acronym comes from a the description of the process. COPES questions originate in daily practice. The client in this question can be an individual, or a group.

  • Client Oriented - Questions  from daily practice, posed by practitioners, focused to client's welfare

 

  • Practical -Concern problems that arise frequently  -Concern agency mission - Knowing answer could impact decision 

 

  • Search Oriented - Specific enough to guide electronic evidence search 

5 General Types of COPES Questions

  • Assessment question – Does a specific client system demonstrate an identified problem or strength? / Has a specific intervention been able to achieve the desired outcomes?
  • Description question – What are my clients experiences in a given situation? (Involves techniques such as client surveys and observation by practitioners)
  • Effectiveness question – How effective is an intervention in treating your clients?
  • Prevention question – How effective is an intervention in helping your clients to avoid a problem?
  • Risk question – What is the probability of a specific outcome or consequence in given situation?

ASK: Client Oriented Practical Evidence Search (COPES)

 

Identify Main Concepts of Your Research Topic

Dementia Reality Orientation Validation Therapy Improve Family Care
Alzheimer's ROT Patient Control Reduce Stress
Senile Dementia Patient Education Redirection Techniques Quality of Life
Senile Positive Effect in Behavior

After deciding on your topic and setting up a research question or hypothesis. What are the main concepts or variables that you want to focus and what alternative words and terminology can be used to describe them? 

Main Concepts: 

What would be a better for family providers/caregivers   dealing with elder dementia, reality orientation therapy or validation therapy?

Example:

Research Tip: Keep a  list of possible words to search & track what terms work and don't work.  

Alternative Terms: 

Client/Problem

Action/Solution

Alternative

Goal/Outcome

COPES Search Strategy Activity

ACQUIRE: Find the Best Evidence and Search Multiple Databases

 

Common Search Commands

OR 

OR 

OR 

OR 

Advanced Search

APPRAISE : Critically Appraise the Evidence

When browsing results, read the abstracts of articles to make a more informed decision about the article's potential. Don't judge an article by title only.

Filter Results by Type of Evidence

Filter Results by Type of Evidence

Find Full-Text and Critically Analyze Article  

If No Full-Text Request Interlibrary Loan

If No Full- Text Request Interlibrary Loan

Keep Track of Your Research

ORGANIZE YOUR RESEARCH

Zotero exports citation information from any database by using a plugin within your favorite Internet browser.

Maintain your citations organized in your personalized database and create references much easier.

https://hpu.libguides.com/zotero

Learn

More

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SWRK 4960

By Elizabeth Torres