The paper will include the following sections:
a. Clinical Question
• Describe the problem. What is the focus of your group’s work?
• Explain the significance of the problem in terms of patient outcomes. What health outcomes result from your problem? Or what statistics document this is a problem? You may find support on websites for government or professional organizations.
• PICOT question in support of the group topic.
• State the purpose of your paper. What will your paper do or describe? This is like a problem
statement. “The purpose of this paper is to . . .”
b. Levels of Evidence
• Identify the type of question being asked (therapy, prognosis, meaning, etc.).
• What is the best type of evidence to answer that question (e.g., RCT, cohort study, qualitative study, etc.)?
c. Search Strategy
• List search terms and results.
• Databases used (start with the CU library). Link your search with the PICOT question described above.
• Refinement decisions. As you did your search, what decisions did you make in refinement to get your required articles down to a reasonable number for review? Were any limits used? If so, what?
• Identification of two (2) most relevant articles (primary sources published within the last 5 years).
d. Format
• Correct grammar and spelling.
• Include a title page.
• Use of headings for each section.
Clinical Question, Levels of Evidence, Search Strategy, and Conclusion
• Adheres to current APA formatting and guidelines.
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Clinical Question:
In patients with type 2 diabetes, does a plant-based diet compared to a standard diet result in better glycemic control?
Significance of the problem:
Type 2 diabetes is a significant public health issue affecting millions of people globally. Poor glycemic control is associated with long-term complications, including cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, and retinopathy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). A plant-based diet has been shown to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (Satija et al., 2016), which can potentially reduce the risk of long-term complications.
PICOT question:
In patients with type 2 diabetes, does a plant-based diet compared to a standard diet result in better glycemic control over a period of 6 months?
Purpose of the paper:
The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate and synthesize the available evidence regarding the effect of a plant-based diet on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Levels of Evidence:
The question being asked is a therapy question. The best type of evidence to answer this question would be a randomized controlled trial (RCT) or a systematic review of RCTs.
Search Strategy:
The search terms used were “type 2 diabetes,” “plant-based diet,” “glycemic control,” and “randomized controlled trial.” Databases used were PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. The search was linked to the PICOT question. Limits used were studies published in the last 5 years and studies conducted on humans.
Identification of two most relevant articles:
Kahleova, H., Tura, A., Hill, M., Holubkov, R., Barnard, N., & Clements, M. (2018). A plant-based dietary intervention improves beta-cell function and insulin resistance in overweight adults: A 16-week randomized clinical trial. Nutrients, 10(2), 1-17.
Yokoyama, Y., Barnard, N. D., Levin, S. M., & Watanabe, M. (2017). Vegetarian diets and glycemic control in diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy, 7(Suppl 1), S53-S62.
Conclusion:
The evidence suggests that a plant-based diet may be effective in improving glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, further research is needed to establish the long-term effects of a plant-based diet on glycemic control and other health outcomes.
