Identifying the best research design to fit the question. Part 1: quantitative designs

Identifying the best research design to fit the question.Part 1: quantitative designs Evidence-based nursing is about applying the best available evidence to a specific clinical question.Different clinical questions require evidence from different research designs.No single design has precedence over another, rather the design chosen must fit the particular research question. 1 Questions focused on the cause, prognosis (course), diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or economics of health problems are best answered using quantitative designs, whereas questions about the meaning or experience of illness are best answered using qualitative designs.Many different quantitative and qualitative research designs exist, each with a specific purpose and with strengths and limitations.In this editorial, the most rigorous quantitative designs to address questions of prevention or treatment, causation, and prognosis will be outlined.The next editorial will describe the use of qualitative designs to address questions of meaning or experience.