Evidence Based Practice

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Evidence Based Practice

• Steve Pew
• Principal Lecturer
• Informatics Information Systems

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Evidence Based Practice

• Learning Outcomes
• to use different databases to search for
  literature supporting Evidence Based Practice
• to evaluate information in relation to its
  usefulness to own areas of practice
• to consider ways in which available literature
  can contribute to current practice in meeting the
  requirement for EBP.

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Evidence Based Practice

• What is it?
• Why is it important?
• Rationale for using Evidence Based Practice?
• How is it done - finding evaluating research
  publications to support practice?
• Barriers to implementation?

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What is it?

• Evidence based practice is the conscientious,
  explicit and judicious use of current best
  evidence in making decisions about the care of
  individual patients/clients.
• Sackett DL et al. (BMJ 1996 312 71-2)

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Why is it important?

• Increasing evidence of alarming variations in
  clinical practice.
• Evidence of lack of knowledge when planning care.
• Huge increase in information available,
  professionals cannot keep up to date.
• Accountability, openness, public pressure for
  more involvement in care decisions.

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Why Evidence Based Practice?

• Patients preferences for health outcomes.
• Patients involvement in decision-making
• Open Access to evidence by professionals and
  Public.
• Improved ways of sharing information.
• Governments aim of improving care.
• Accountability/fear of litigation.

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Rationale for Using EBP!

• Information technology allows us ready access to
  the evidence via the World Wide Web.
• Large number of evidence-based guidelines
  available. (Practice/Clinical Guidelines - NICE)
• Increasing levels of skills in research and
  research appraisal by practitioners.

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How is it done?

• Formulate your question carefully and clearly.
• Search for relevant evidence
• Critically appraise the evidence.
• Implement findings by using it in care planning.
• Monitor and evaluate interventions/care given.

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Appraising the evidence!

• Ask these questions?
• Is the study valid? How, where, by whom.
• What are the results, strengths weaknesses?
• Are the results useful/applicable to patients/own
  area of practice?
• What are the patients needs?
• How can the evidence be used in planning, giving,
  evaluating care?

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Barriers to implementation!

• Organizational
• Skills
• Funding

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Opportunities for implementation.

• Gather and evaluate the evidence.
• Develop Evidence Based Practice Policies.
• Integrate evidence in planning, giving and
  evaluation of care.
• Elicit patient preferences (involvement).

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Evidence Based Process
Information need
Evaluate Performance
Formulate Question
PATIENT HEALTH CARE TEAM
Search for Evidence
Choose Option to implement
Appraise Evidence
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Practice

• Log on to the Student Intranet.
• Change address to (follow instruction on
  handouts)
• Search Internet for Evidence Based Nursing
• Appraise and evaluate the evidence. Ask the
  questions in slide 9.

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Thank You