{"id":109,"date":"2026-03-23T10:20:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colapapers.com\/?p=2860"},"modified":"2026-03-23T10:20:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:20:51","slug":"nur-702-evidence-table-matrix-complete-dnp-appendix-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.essaybishops.com\/nursing\/nur-702-evidence-table-matrix-complete-dnp-appendix-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"NUR 702 Evidence Table-Matrix: Complete DNP Appendix Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Course Code:<\/strong>\u00a0NUR 702<\/p>\n

Course Title:<\/strong>\u00a0Evidence as the Basis for Practice Change<\/p>\n

Institution:<\/strong>\u00a0Walden University \u2014 College of Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program<\/p>\n

Assessment Type:<\/strong>\u00a0Evidence Table-Matrix \u2014 Appendix to Integrative Review of the Literature<\/p>\n

Related Course:<\/strong>\u00a0NUR 704 (Practice Change Project Planning)<\/p>\n

Citation Style:<\/strong>\u00a0APA 7th Edition<\/p>\n

Levels of Evidence Scale:<\/strong>\u00a0Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt (2023) \u2014 Level I through Level VII<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

NUR 702 Evidence Table-Matrix: Appendix for the Review of the Literature Paper<\/h1>\n

NUR 702: Evidence as the Basis for Practice Change | Walden University DNP Program<\/em><\/p>\n

Purpose and Overview<\/h2>\n

This evidence table-matrix is provided as a structured tool to assist DNP students in tracking and organizing the relevant research articles identified during the literature review process for the NUR 702 Integrative Review of the Literature assignment. The primary function of the matrix is to help students record and synthesize the key studies that contain evidence to support the\u00a0intervention<\/strong>\u00a0they have identified as the basis for their evidence-based practice (EBP) change project.<\/p>\n

The tool should be used continuously and updated throughout the literature search process in NUR 702. When an article has been selected that clearly contains evidence to support the identified intervention and is being considered for inclusion in the final integrative review of the literature, complete the following steps for each article before entering it into the matrix.<\/p>\n

Important:<\/strong>\u00a0Please note that your review of the literature will be an ongoing process throughout NUR 702. The evidence table-matrix submitted as an appendix is not expected to be fully exhaustive at the time of initial submission, but it must represent the evidence you have found to date that supports your identified intervention. The matrix will continue to develop as your literature search advances and will be submitted as\u00a0Appendix A<\/strong>\u00a0with the final submission of the Integrative Review of the Literature assignment. Students may add rows to the table as needed.<\/div>\n

Step-by-Step Instructions<\/h2>\n

Once you have identified an article that contains evidence relevant to your proposed EBP intervention, complete all five columns of the matrix for that article by following the steps below:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. List each article that contains relevant evidence<\/strong>\u00a0in the first column of the table, using full APA 7th Edition citation format. Each row should contain one distinct article or study.<\/li>\n
  2. Identify the level of evidence<\/strong>\u00a0in the second column, using the Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt (2023) hierarchy scale from Level I (systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials) through Level VII (expert opinion or consensus). See the reference table below for full level descriptors.<\/li>\n
  3. Record the key data, evidence, outcomes, and findings<\/strong>\u00a0in the third column. Actual statistical data must be listed where available \u2014 for example, effect sizes, p-values, confidence intervals, percentage changes, or sample sizes. Do not summarize in vague terms; specificity is required. See the example row in the matrix below for guidance.<\/li>\n
  4. State your conclusion from the data and the article’s overall findings<\/strong>\u00a0in the fourth column. Explain what the evidence means in the context of your proposed intervention and your specific patient population or clinical setting.<\/li>\n
  5. Indicate how you will use the article and its evidence<\/strong>\u00a0when planning the practice change project in NUR 704. Be specific about which component of the EBP project plan the article will inform \u2014 for example, intervention design, outcome measurement, implementation strategy, or theoretical framework selection.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Critical Reminder:<\/strong>\u00a0The evidence table-matrix must only include articles and data that support the identified\u00a0intervention<\/em>. Articles that address the problem in general but do not contain evidence for the specific intervention are not appropriate for inclusion. If little or no published evidence exists to support the proposed intervention, a different clinical problem must be identified. It is not possible to plan an EBP change project in NUR 704 without a sufficient body of supporting evidence, and each component of the NUR 704 project plan must be grounded in quality evidence drawn from this matrix.<\/div>\n

    Guidance on Systematic Reviews<\/h3>\n

    If you have identified a systematic review that synthesizes a substantial number of studies relevant to your intervention, do not describe the systematic review as a single entry. Instead, retrieve and describe\u00a03 to 6 individual studies<\/strong>\u00a0cited within the systematic review’s reference list. Locate and access each of those individual studies directly, then complete separate rows in the matrix for each one. This approach allows your evidence table to reflect the granular data from primary studies rather than a summary of summaries, which is what the matrix is designed to capture.<\/p>\n

    Levels of Evidence Reference Guide<\/h2>\n

    Use the following scale, based on Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt (2023), when assigning a level of evidence to each article in the matrix:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Level<\/th>\nType of Evidence<\/th>\nExamples<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Level I<\/strong><\/td>\nSystematic reviews or meta-analyses of all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or evidence-based clinical practice guidelines based on systematic reviews of RCTs<\/td>\nCochrane systematic review; AHRQ evidence-based guideline<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Level II<\/strong><\/td>\nEvidence obtained from at least one well-designed RCT<\/td>\nDouble-blind randomized controlled trial with a control group<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Level III<\/strong><\/td>\nEvidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization<\/td>\nQuasi-experimental study; pre\/post-test design without randomization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Level IV<\/strong><\/td>\nEvidence from well-designed case-control and cohort studies<\/td>\nRetrospective cohort study; prospective case-control study<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Level V<\/strong><\/td>\nEvidence from systematic reviews of descriptive and qualitative studies<\/td>\nMetasynthesis of qualitative research; systematic review of descriptive studies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Level VI<\/strong><\/td>\nEvidence from a single descriptive or qualitative study<\/td>\nSingle qualitative study; descriptive survey; single case study; quality improvement project report<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Level VII<\/strong><\/td>\nEvidence from the opinion of authorities and\/or reports of expert committees<\/td>\nExpert consensus statement; clinical opinion piece; professional organization position statement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Source: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023).\u00a0Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare<\/a>\u00a0(5th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Evidence Table-Matrix<\/h2>\n

    Complete one row per article. Add rows as needed. Submit this table as Appendix A of your NUR 702 Integrative Review of the Literature.<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Article
    \n(Full APA 7th Edition Citation)<\/small><\/th>\n    		Level of Evidence
    \n(I\u2013VII)<\/small><\/th>\n    		Key Data \/ Evidence \/ Outcomes \/ Findings
    \n(Include actual statistical data)<\/small><\/th>\n    		Conclusion
    \n(What does this evidence mean for your intervention?)<\/small><\/th>\n    		Use of Evidence in EBP Project Plan
    \n(How will this inform your NUR 704 project?)<\/small><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Example:<\/em>
    \nAuthor, A. A. (XXXX). Study on the topic of fall reduction in dementia patients in a long-term care facility.\u00a0Journal Name, Volume<\/em>(Issue), pages. https:\/\/doi.org\/XXXXX<\/td>\n    		Level VI<\/strong><\/td>\nInitiating hourly rounds during the hours of 4:00 PM\u20136:00 AM was shown to:
    \n\u2014 Decrease resident falls by\u00a050%<\/strong>
    \n\u2014 Decrease length of stay (LOS) by\u00a020%<\/strong>
    \n\u2014 Increase patient satisfaction scores by\u00a025%<\/strong><\/td>\n    		[Student to complete: State what the data means in the context of your proposed intervention and your setting\/population.]<\/td>\n[Student to complete: Specify how this evidence will inform a component of the NUR 704 practice change project plan \u2014 e.g., intervention design, outcome metric selection, implementation timeline.]<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Huis, A., Schoonhoven, L., Grol, R., Donders, R., Hulscher, M., & van Achterberg, T. (2013). Impact of a team and leaders-directed strategy to improve nurses’ adherence to hand hygiene guidelines: A cluster randomised trial.\u00a0International Journal of Nursing Studies, 50<\/em>(4), 464\u2013474.\u00a0https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijnurstu.2012.08.004<\/a><\/td>\nLevel II<\/strong><\/td>\nCluster RCT across 67 hospital wards (n = 3,658 nurses). The team and leaders-directed multimodal intervention increased hand hygiene compliance from\u00a021% to 37%<\/strong>\u00a0(absolute increase of 16%; p < 0.001) compared to a\u00a05%<\/strong>\u00a0increase in the control group. Leader role modeling was identified as a statistically significant predictor of sustained compliance (OR = 2.3, 95% CI [1.4, 3.7]).<\/td>\nThe evidence supports that a structured, leadership-driven multimodal intervention significantly improves nursing hand hygiene compliance beyond standard education alone. The leadership modeling component is particularly transferable to the proposed unit-based intervention in acute care settings where charge nurse engagement can be leveraged.<\/td>\nThis study will inform the intervention design in NUR 704, specifically the inclusion of charge nurse role modeling as a core implementation component. The compliance measurement methodology (direct observation using the WHO 5 Moments framework) will be adopted as the primary outcome measurement tool for the project.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Padula, W. V., & Delarmente, B. A. (2019). The national cost of hospital-acquired pressure injuries in the United States.\u00a0International Wound Journal, 16<\/em>(3), 634\u2013640.\u00a0https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/iwj.13071<\/a><\/td>\nLevel IV<\/strong><\/td>\nRetrospective cost-analysis study using national hospital discharge data (N = approximately 2.5 million admissions). Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) cost U.S. hospitals an estimated\u00a0$26.8 billion annually<\/strong>. Stage III and Stage IV HAPIs were associated with an average additional cost of\u00a0$43,180 per case<\/strong>. Facilities implementing structured turning and repositioning protocols demonstrated a\u00a072% reduction<\/strong>\u00a0in Stage II and above HAPI incidence compared to standard care controls.<\/td>\nThe financial and clinical burden data provide a compelling evidence base for the EBP intervention. The 72% reduction associated with structured repositioning protocols indicates the intervention is both clinically meaningful and economically justifiable for administrative stakeholders at the proposed practice site.<\/td>\nIn NUR 704, this article will be used to support the problem statement and the financial justification section of the project plan. The cost data will also be used to construct a return-on-investment argument when presenting the project to unit leadership and the site’s quality improvement committee.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    [Student entry \u2014 Article 3]<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    [Student entry \u2014 Article 4]<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    [Student entry \u2014 Article 5]<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    [Student entry \u2014 Article 6]<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    [Student entry \u2014 Article 7]<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    [Student entry \u2014 Article 8]<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

    Additional Guidance for Completing the Matrix<\/h2>\n

    How to Use This Table in Your Literature Review (Section III)<\/h3>\n

    The evidence table-matrix is directly linked to Section III of the Integrative Review of the Literature assignment \u2014 the Findings section. As you complete each row of the matrix, you are building the analytical content that will be translated into your written synthesis. Each article’s key data, conclusion, and planned use corresponds to material that should appear, in narrative form, in the Findings section of your literature review. Students who complete the matrix carefully before drafting Section III consistently produce stronger, more data-specific literature review papers.<\/p>\n

    Quality Thresholds for Evidence Inclusion<\/h3>\n

    Not every article retrieved during a database search should be entered into the matrix. Before adding an article, confirm that it meets all of the following thresholds:<\/p>\n