American Association of Colleges of Nursing. © 2013 - All Rights Reserved.
This program generously funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Karen N. Drenkard, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Executive Director
American Nurses Credentialing Center
Evidence-Based Practice
Evidence-Based Practice:
Practice based on the best available evidence that also incorporates:
- patient values and preferences
- clinician judgement and expertise
(Sherwood and Barnsteiner)
Using evidence to guide nursing
practice
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. © 2013- All Rights Reserved.
Key Terms
Research conduct is the systematic investigation of clinical phenomenon or the generating of new knowledge.
Research Utilization (RU) was a term used in the 1980’s and 90’s to describe a two-step process of dissemination and implementation.
Dissemination is the systematic efforts to make research available
Implementatron is the systematic implementation of scientifically
sound, research-based innovation.
Translational Research
• Translational research is the testing of the effect of interventions aimed at promoting the rate and extent of adoption of EBP by
healthcare providers.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. © 2013- All Rights Reserved.
Link to Safety and Quality
Safe, effective delivery of patient care requires the
use of nursing practices consistent with the best
available knowledge.
Learner Objectives
By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:
1. Define Evidence-Based Practice - the content.
2. Define the requirements for graduate level competencies
3. Describe the barriers to implementation of Evidence Based Practice
4. Describe teaching strategies for graduate level
when teaching evidence based practice
Evidence-Based Practice – the content
Steps in EBP
1. Develop a researchable question
2. Search for best evidence available and assess the strength of that evidence
3. Complete a critical analysis and synthesis of the evidence 4. Develop recommendations for practice
5. Evaluate the outcome of evidence based practice changes.
Numerous models have been published to guide nurses in
moving to EBP. Commonly used nursing models include the
Iowa, STAR, Hopkins and University of Arizona models.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. © 2013- All Rights Reserved.
1. Develop a researchable question
The PICO model is often used to define a problem and formulate a specific question:
Population
Intervention
Comparison
Outcome
Develop a researchable question
An example of the PICO is as follows:
In hospitalized patients over 60 years of age, how effective is a falls-prevention program in
comparison to the normal standard of care in decreasing falls and falls injury rates by 50%?
The question guides the search for evidence so the more
explicit the question, the easier it is to develop the search
strategies.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. © 2013- All Rights Reserved.
Teaching Strategy #1
Sacred Cows Contest:
1. What is the most traditional nursing practice done in this clinical area?
2. What is the least logical nursing practice happening in your area?
3. What is the most time consuming practice in your
area?
2. Search for the best evidence available
• Searching for evidence difficult and complex.
• Numerous templates for conducting systematic reviews.
• Information is gathered from several sources including:
systematic reviews,
clinical practice guidelines, and
searching journal publications for pertinent research
articles.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. © 2013- All Rights Reserved.
Sources of Synthesized Knowledge
Sources of synthesized knowledge include:
National Guidelines Clearing House
Sigma Theta Tau International
Evidence-Based Nursing
Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing
The Johanna Briggs Institute
Cochrane Collaborative
Health Information Resources
EB Summaries of Systematic Reviews
Evidence summaries or systematic reviews provide a foundation for EBP activities. Clinicians often do not have the time to summarize the total evidence for a question.
Systematic reviews may be
published and indexed in large
databases such as Medline and
CINAHL.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. © 2013- All Rights Reserved.
Clinical Practice Guidelines
EB clinical practice guidelines are systematically developed statements that help clinicians and patients make decisions about health care for specific clinical circumstances. They often are developed by a multidisciplinary group, followed by external review prior to publication.
The National Guidelines Clearinghouse has guidelines
developed in the US as well as internationally.
3. Complete a critical analysis and synthesis of the evidence
Assess the strength of the evidence:
Randomized control trials Cohort studies Case Control studies
Case Reports Expert opinion Systematic and meta-
analysis reviews Level of
Evidence
Review
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4. Develop recommendations for practice
A comprehensive and detailed plan including communication of the change to all those affected, training requirements,
development of detailed protocols, and notifying other departments and individuals who may be affected by the change is included in the dissemination plan. Active
interventions such as self-study, learning labs, reminders,
and decision supports are more likely to induce change than
passive education.
Patient Values and Clinical Expertise Join in the Equation
Little has been written regarding patient/family preferences and values related to EBP as well as the role of clinical
expertise. Generally EBP has focused on the translation of research into practice.
However, research evidence alone is not sufficient to ensure
sound clinical decisions necessary for effective health care.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. © 2013- All Rights Reserved.
Incorporating Patient / Family Preferences
• Question prompts for patients, and coaching to develop skills in questioning clinicians and deliberating about
options improve patient/family member decision-making abilities.
• Kleinman’s questions for ascertaining patients’ beliefs and values may serve as a useful reference.
• Patient-centered care may at times conflict with evidence-
driven care and that patient preferences have priority over
evidence-based recommendations.
Clinical Expertise
• Clinical decision making complex process
• Requires more than research to guide practice.
• Proficiency and judgment that individual clinicians acquire through clinical experience and clinical practice.
• Experienced clinicians use both individual clinical expertise
and the best available external evidence.
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5. Evaluate the outcome of evidence based practice changes
Determine how the practice change is used. Audit and
feedback demonstrates the gap between actual and desired results and address questions such as did the clinicians
receive the information about a practice change and did they adhere to the practice change.
How difficult or smooth was it to use the new way?
Barriers to EBP
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Assess the Barriers to Using the Knowledge
Consideration of barriers that may be encountered and resolving them prior to dissemination will help to ensure the
success of the EBP.
This includes identifying and obtaining
resources that may be necessary.
Barriers to EBP
Barriers identified include:
Lack of time to locate and synthesize knowledge
Negative attitudes towards research and EBP
Lack of skill to search the literature and to interpret evidence
Access to the internet and computerized resources
The perception of lack of authority to change practice
These barriers need to be kept in mind even as one moves
through the steps in the process.
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Teaching Strategy #2
Improving Evidence Based Practice in Systems:
Assess a system to identify barriers to implementing evidence based practice
Design an evidence based structure
Choose strategies to improve use of evidence based
practice and develop a plan
Graduate Level Competencies
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Graduate Level Competencies
Know ledge
• Understand the content –
methods and processes
• Determine the evidence gaps
• Address the gaps
• Evaluation of organizational structures and cultures that promote EBP
Sk ills
• Differentiate between research, EBP, and QI
• Role model clinical decision making
• Promote a research agenda
• Lead and marshal resources for EBP
• Design organizational systems that support EBP
Attitu de s • Value the process
• Champion the changes
• Value the
scientific process
Graduate Level Teaching
Strategies
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Teaching Tips
• Enthusiasm is contagious. Approach the content in a positive and upbeat way.
• Role model the use of evidence based practice. Share examples from your own practice during lectures and small group report out.
• Millenial students want pedagogy of engagement – Don’t lecture at them – engage them in the work.
• Whenever possible, the work should be interactive.
Have the class work in small groups as much as possible.
• Consider experiential approaches. This will require a practice
partner / clinical service partnership.
Teaching Tips
• Cite examples of clinical research in class.
• Allow the students whenever possible to choose their clinical interest area to conduct evidence analysis.
• Teach them how to critique a nursing research study using any of the research guides available.
• Invite a guest speaker to share a case study of an experience where research was incorporated into clinical practice. Have the students review the 5 steps in the EBP process – did the case study touch on all of the steps?
• Develop researchable questions in a fun way – consider a contest,
or a game show format for generating ideas for questions that they
want answered or want to know more about.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. © 2013- All Rights Reserved.