Medical Application Critical Appraisal Guidelines
Assignment
Purpose
The purposes of this assignment are to: (a) demonstrate nursing informatics skills to critique commonly used mobile applications, (b) synthesize nursing and non-nursing knowledge using a guided appraisal process, and (c) develop NI skills with computer technologies to support professional and personal development with implementation of medical applications in clinical practice.
Mobile Health, also known as mHealth, is defined as the use of wireless communication to support efficiency in public health and clinical practice. To facilitate mHealth, mobile applications (apps) have been developed, which can be executed either on a mobile platform or on a web-based platform which is executed on a server. Mobile medical apps are often accessories to a FDA-regulated medical device. Incumbent upon each healthcare provider is a clear understanding of the implications of this guidance on clinical practice as well as demonstrate discretion with regard to medical app implementation.
Course Outcomes
This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
CO 2: Demonstrate synthesis of nursing and non-nursing science with information and computer technologies through collaborative advanced nursing practice (PO 5)
CO 4: Exemplify professional values and scholarship to support professional and personal development (PO 1)
Preparation and Paper Outline:
- PART 1: The medical application selection for this assignment is contingent upon the month of your birthday. Use the table below to identify the Medical App for this assignment.
Your Birth Month | Medical App for Assignment |
January, February | MDCalc |
March, April, May | Medscape |
June, July, August | The Chief Complaint |
September, October | Pocket Pharmacist(PocketRx) |
November, December | SingleCare |
- Use the Google Play Storefor Android devices or the Apple iTunes App Store for Apple devices to search for the medical application as determined by the table above.
- In order to complete the following guided appraisal, download the appto a mobile device (smartphone or tablet). The apps are free and do not require purchase to complete this assignment.
- Provide proof of downloadby attaching a screenshot of the device screen in JPEG or PDF format to the assignment upload tab (in addition to submitting this assignment). Following the general instructions below for smartphone devices (specific device instructions may vary):
-
Android 4.0 and Newer: (Galaxy SIII, Galaxy S 4, Galaxy Note, HTC One, Nexus phones, Droid phones)
- Any Android phone running Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) or later can easily take a screenshot. Hold the Power and Volume Down buttons together until the screen flashes and you hear the shutter sound. The screenshot image will appear in your Gallery app, usually inside the Screenshots folder
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iPhone
- The method for taking a screenshot in iOS has been the same since version 2.0. Hold the Power (Sleep/Wake)and Home buttons together until the screen flashes and you hear the shutter sound. The screenshot image will appear in your Photos app under Camera Roll.
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Android 4.0 and Newer: (Galaxy SIII, Galaxy S 4, Galaxy Note, HTC One, Nexus phones, Droid phones)
- PART 2:Answer the Medical App Critical Appraisal questions thoughtfully and comprehensively. Use the criteria headings on this outline as the headings on your properly APA- formatted paper.
- NAME: What is the name of the app?
- AUTHOR:Who created, developed, or maintains the app? Explain.
- ENDORSEMENT:Is the app licensed by the Food and Drug Administration, other government agency, or endorsed by an academic institution or medical professional organization? Explain.
- OPERATION:Which platform (mobile or web-based) is suitable for the app and why?
- AESTHETICS:Is the information displayed in a way that is easy to navigate? Is it easy to use? Can you use it without instructions? Explain.
- PURPOSE:What is the intended purpose or use of the app?
- CLINICAL DECISION MAKING:What influence does the app have on clinical decision making? Explain.
- SAFETY:Is there potential for patient harm? Explain.
- PRIVACY/SECURITY:Does the app have privacy statement or setting? Is there a clear privacy policy stating information will be encrypted and not shared with third parties? Does the app share information on social networks? Are users notified in the event of a breach of privacy and health information? Explain.
- USER:For whom is the app intended (providers, patients, or others)? Explain.
- DISTRIBUTION:Is it designed for local use or wider distribution? Explain.
- CREDIBILITY: How credible are the sources of information? How do you know? Explain.
- RELEVANCE:How current is the information in the app? When was the last update? Is the content consistent with evidence-based literature or best practices/standards of care? Explain.
- PART 3:Provide one example of an appropriate patient or clinical scenario for this app. The example should include the following details:
- Patient Age-population (Pediatric, Adult, Geriatric)
- Clinical Setting (Hospital, Private Practice, Extended Living Facility)
- History of Present Illness and Diagnosis or Condition
- Provide a detailed description of the app in your example. When will the app be implemented (at the Point-of-care or elsewhere)? Who will use the app? What potential impact will it have on the scenario? Incorporate the critical appraisal information from Part 2. Provide one evidence-based scholarly article as a reference to support clinical decision-making.
- This assignment will be graded on the quality of the information, inclusion of one evidence-based scholarly resource, use of citations, use of Standard English grammar, and organization based on the required components (see the paper headings and content details in Part 1).
5. The length of the paper is to be between 1,000 and 1,500 words, excluding title page and reference list.
6. Create this assignment using Microsoft (MS) Word. You can tell that the document is saved as a MS Word document because it will end in “.docx.”
7. APA format is required in this assignment, explicitly for in-text citations and the reference list. Use 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins and double spacing. See the APA manual for details regarding proper citation. See resources under Course Resources, “Guidelines for Writing Professional Papers” for further clarification.
* Scholarly Sources: Only scholarly sources are acceptable for citation and reference in this course. These include peer-reviewed publications, government reports, or sources written by a professional or scholar in the field. The textbooks and lessons are NOT considered to be outside scholarly sources. For the threaded discussions and reflection posts, reputable internet sources such as websites by government agencies (URL ends in .gov) and respected organizations (often ends in .org) can be counted as scholarly sources. The best outside scholarly source to use is a peer-reviewed nursing journal. You are encouraged to use the Chamberlain library and search one of the available databases for a peer-reviewed journal article. The following sources should not be used: Wikipedia, Wikis, or blogs. These websites are not considered scholarly as anyone can add to these. Please be aware that .com websites can vary in scholarship and quality. For example, the American Heart Association is a .com site with scholarship and quality. It is the responsibility of the student to determine the scholarship and quality of any .com site. Ask your instructor before using any site if you are unsure. Points will be deducted from the rubric if the site does not demonstrate scholarship or quality. Current outside scholarly sources must be published with the last 5 years. Instructor permission must be obtained BEFORE the assignment is due if using a source that is older than 5 years.
Rubric
Medical Application Critical Appraisal
Medical Application Critical Appraisal | |||||||
Criteria | Ratings | Pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCriterion 1 PART 1: Medical Application Selection, Download, and Proof of Download
Must demonstrate the following elements: Student identified the medical application according to the table provided in the guidelines for the assignment Downloaded the app to an appropriate mobile device Provided clear proof of download Screenshot of the device screen in JPEG or PDF format (4 Required Elements) |
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30 pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCriterion 2 PART 2 Critical Appraisal, Scholarliness and Scholarly Sources
Must demonstrate the following elements: Student demonstrated use of scholarly inquiry Demonstrated understanding of the intended use of the medical application Conducted critical appraisal using a systematic approach Incorporated at least one EBP scholarly source |
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80 pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCriterion 3 PART 3: Application of Knowledge and Clinical Implementation
Must demonstrate the following elements: Constructed a clinical scenario which included all of the following: Patient Age-population (Pediatric, Adult, Geriatric),Clinical Setting (Hospital, Private Practice, Extended Living Facility), History of Present Illness and Diagnosis or Condition Provided a detailed description of the app used in the scenario Incorporated the critical appraisal information in the scenario Demonstrated synthesis of knowledge and critical reasoning skills relevant to the clinical role of an advanced practice nurse (4 Required Elements) |
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60 pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeFormat Criterion 1 Grammar, Spelling, Syntax, APA Format, and Word Requirements
NOTE: Failure to comply with the word requirements for this assignment will result in the grade of zero (0) for this Criterion. |
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30 pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeLate penalty deductions |
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0 pts | |||||