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Physical Therapist Assistant

Use this guide to help you research information using the WCC Bailey Library resources.

Brainstorm your Research Topic

Convert your PICO Question into Search Concepts 

Sample question: 

For adults with low back pain (patient), do spinal stabilization exercises (intervention) reduce pain and increase function (outcome) more effectively than manual therapy (comparison)?

The PICO parts with keywords for this question would look like this:

Parts of the Question Clinical Scenario Key terms 
P Patient Population  adults with low back pain adults or adult or aged or elderly
I Intervention spinal stabilization exercises spinal stabilization exercises or therapeutic exercise methods or plank exercise or side bridge
Comparison (if any) manual therapy manual therapy 
Outcome  reduce pain and increase function reduce pain or decrease pain or pain relief
Types of Study   

 

PICO Question:   Does a mind-body program improve function and reduce pain in older adults with chronic low back pain?

Terminology in CINAHL for mind body alternative options in physical therapy using the article "A Mind-Body Program for Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial"

 

Population Intervention Comparison Outcome

older adults

elderly

senior 

old age 

+65 years 

AND 

mind body

mind-body

mind body program

mind body techniques

mind body techniques methods

mind body interventions

AND 

 weight bearing exercise 

AND 

lower chronic low back pain

lower back pain

reduce back pain 

Building a search: 

Population Intervention Comparison Outcome
elderly OR aged OR older OR elder OR geriatric OR senior OR +65 mind body OR mind-body OR mind body techniques OR mind body exercise OR Baduanjin exercise OR Chinese mind body exercise weight bearing exercise chronic back pain OR chronic low back pain OR back pain 

Class Reading

Class Research Requirements:

The assignment involves students thinking of a PICO question with regards to physical agents/modalities in physical therapy (examples are hot packs, ice massage, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, traction, laser, etc). Once the student has their PICO question, they are to perform a search of professional literature and write a paper on the chosen article.

Modalities— some examples include:

  • Cryotherapy: cold/ice packs, ice massage, cold baths, vapor coolant sprays.
  • Superficial and deep heat (local application): hot packs, paraffin, infrared, fluidotherapy, diathermy, ultrasound
  • Systemic heat: large whirlpool, Hubbard thank
  • Ultraviolet radiation
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
  • Functional neuromuscular electrical stimulation

Your review should identify the following: a) The problem and its significance (the research question, why it's important to ask this research question, and the hypothesis) b) The type of study conducted and the design of the study c) The results d) The clinical application and significance of the results e) The identified need(s) for further investigation Please submit a screenshot of the database search used to select the article. The typewritten review is to be submitted on Blackboard. Provide the instructor with a hard copy or PDF of the article.