Prior to conducting research on our PICOT topic, our team established the hypothesis that there is a positive correlation between breast cancer and oral contraception. After appraising the studies on whether oral birth control contributed to the risk factor of developing breast cancer, our team concluded that our hypothesis was accurate. However, our appraisal of these studies also uncovered that there is still much research to occur to isolate any other contributing factors that could influence the risk of breast cancer.  We also found in reviewing the studies that there was not overwhelming statistical evidence to show that taking oral contraception would increase the risk of developing breast cancer; the results showed only a slight risk.  Contradictorily, one study showed that taking oral contraception does not contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer.  This information is valuable because it gives the healthcare team more information to answer patient questions about birth control and offers reassurance that oral birth control is still considered a safe form of contraception. 

As a team, we acknowledged that there is a slight increased risk to developing breast cancer when taking oral birth control , but not enough to provide patients with an abundance of caution or advise them to discontinue their use of oral contraception.  We did not have any disagreements during our appraisal and synthesis process, which allowed for us to progress more seamlessly through this aspect of our research.  We found the results for each study to be clear and we were able to arrive at the same conclusion.  We also agreed that overarchingly more research should be conducted to support the results that were discovered thus far.

            As future nurses, this appraisal and synthesis experience will allow me to provide better nursing care since I will have more information to offer patients when making important decisions regarding contraception.  Patients look to their healthcare team for answers and rationale to help them make informed decisions regarding their treatment and plan of care.  Having analyzed these studies on oral contraception and breast cancer, I will be able to offer more details about the slight increased risk of developing breast cancer with studies to support this knowledge.  I am interested in developing more PICOT questions in the future since they allow me to deepen my understanding and rationale behind why certain treatments are more optimal than others, as well as contribute to developing improved standards of nursing practice.