The Eight Steps to Integrating Evidence-Based Practice
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is critical to ensuring patients receive high-quality care. It relies on the most recent evidence to guide professional judgment and improve patient outcomes. Medical professionals can take eight steps to integrate EBP into the therapeutic setting: The first step in EBP is to develop a clinical question. This step involves selecting a practice area that needs improvement and formulating a specific query to guide the search for supporting facts (Mathieson et al., 2019). The question should be relevant to the patient population’s needs and focus clearly on the search for evidence.
The next step is to find the best evidence, which entails searching databases, journals, and other sources for the most recent, relevant, and good evidence. The search should be thorough and consider the evidence’s volume and caliber. The best evidence currently available to guide therapeutic decision-making must be found. Reviewing the evidence critically is the third step (Mathieson et al., 2019). This step entails assessing the evidence’s quality, reliability, validity, and application to the clinical issue.
Putting the evidence together is the fourth phase which entails merging and synthesizing the evidence’s findings to create a comprehensive picture of the field’s current state of knowledge. The healthcare professional should assess the evidence fairly by considering its advantages and disadvantages. The application of the evidence to clinical practice is the fifth phase. It entails modifying the evidence to fit the particular requirements and clinical setting scenario (Mathieson et al., 2019). This step entails altering the evidence to reflect regional rules and practices or accounting for the particular requirements and traits of the patient population.
The sixth step is implementing the new approach, which includes incorporating the evidence into clinical practice and providing staff and patients with training, education, and other forms of support. This phase may need a lot of time and resources to guarantee that the new practice is effectively embraced and implemented. The evaluation of the results is the seventh phase. A crucial step in the EBP process is measuring and tracking the impact and efficacy of the new practice. This step entails gathering information on patient outcomes regularly, assessing that information, and modifying the new approach as necessary. Disseminating the findings is the last phase. An essential element in encouraging continuous improvement in healthcare practice is sharing the results and lessons learned through the implementation process with other healthcare professionals, organizations, and communities (Mathieson et al., 2019). Therefore, promoting collaboration, spreading best practices, and aiding the continued development of EBP.
Barriers to the implementation of new practice
Numerous obstacles may need to be overcome when implementing a new technique to manage fall injuries in the healthcare industry. A key hurdle is the lack of understanding and awareness of the problem. Many healthcare professionals might not be knowledgeable about the scope of the fall injury problem, the potential repercussions, or the most recent research and best practices for managing and avoiding falls (Alatawi et al., 2020). Hence, it can be challenging to persuade healthcare professionals to embrace a new practice if they are unaware of the need for change. This lack of understanding or awareness may stymie the implementation process.
Another hurdle is the shortage of resources; many healthcare companies may be unable to invest in personnel development or new equipment owing to tight budgetary constraints. Implementing new fall prevention measures and modifying the current care environment may be difficult because of a constraint on resources. Occasionally, progress may be hampered by the dearth of accessible space or other resources for implementing innovative fall-prevention techniques (Mathieson et al., 2019). Another hurdle to introducing a novel treatment is opposition from patients or employees. Some employees may be resistant to change and wary of implementing new procedures or technologies. Patients may also be reluctant to participate in new programs and may object to changes in their treatment, such as wearing fall-prevention devices (Alatawi et al., 2020). Therefore, strong communication and dedication to the new plan’s advantages are needed to overcome this reluctance. Furthermore, implementing new fall prevention strategies can be difficult. Both patients and staff may have a learning curve, and developing new routines may take time (Mathieson et al., 2019). There may also be practical challenges, such as administering multiple fall-prevention devices or organizing various types of care.
Strategies to increase overcoming the barriers
A new fall prevention approach can be successfully implemented using various strategies. One of the crucial actions is to raise knowledge and awareness of the issue of fall injuries among older adults. Healthcare personnel can be educated and trained to implement this plan. As a result, they are more knowledgeable about the problem’s breadth and the most up-to-date best practices for managing and preventing falls. Moreover, a better understanding of the issue can be helped by public awareness campaigns and media involvement. Another method to enhance outcomes is to increase the resources available for fall prevention. This initiative can be achieved by boosting government financing for fall prevention programs or offering financial incentives to healthcare organizations to invest in new machinery or staff development (Mathieson et al., 2019). Hence, ensuring that the tools are accessible for implementing new fall prevention techniques effectively.
Collaboration and teamwork among numerous parties is another essential strategy for success. This strategy can be carried out by establishing task forces or committees to develop fall prevention suggestions and forging partnerships between community organizations, governmental agencies, and healthcare facilities. This plan will ensure that everyone works together to lower the rate of falls among older adults. Additionally, extending the adoption of novel fall prevention strategies can increase success (Mathieson et al., 2019). This plan can be accomplished by offering assistance and resources to healthcare organizations during the implementation process and by conducting evaluations to determine the efficacy of novel procedures.
Sources of Internal Evidence
Many internal data sources can show that older individuals’ fall prevention results have improved. Patient records are one source that can be utilized to track improvement over time and offer data on the quantity and frequency of falls. Surveys and interviews can be utilized to learn about patients’ and staff members’ opinions and experiences with fall prevention measures. Observations of patients and staff can be used to track the implementation of new fall preventative initiatives and highlight areas for improvement. Performance evaluations can show the effectiveness and efficiency of fall prevention programs and monitor their growth over time (Mathieson et al., 2019). While incident reports can provide information on the incidence and severity of falls, clinical audits can provide data on fall mitigation strategy implementation and adherence and assist in identifying areas for improvement.
The healthcare industry must focus on preventing falls in older individuals. Healthcare professionals can lower the number of falls and improve patient safety by incorporating evidence-based practice into fall prevention strategies. The eight steps to integrating evidence-based practice are finding the best available evidence, reviewing it critically, using it to improve patient care, assessing results, sharing findings, and continuously looking for new evidence. Thus, increasing knowledge and awareness, resources, teamwork, and implementation is necessary to overcome obstacles to adopting novel fall prevention methods. Data to show improvement in outcomes can be obtained from internal evidence sources like patient records, staff observations, and patient and family feedback. Healthcare professionals can positively impact older individuals’ fall prevention by putting these techniques into practice.
References
Mathieson, A., Grande, G., & Luker, K. (2019). Strategies, facilitators and barriers to implementation of evidence-based practice in Community Nursing: A systematic mixed-studies review and qualitative synthesis. Primary Health Care Research & Development, 20. Web.
Alatawi, M., Aljuhani, E., Alsufiany, F., Aleid, K., Rawah, R., Aljanabi, S., & Banakhar, M. (2020). Barriers of implementing evidence-based practice in Nursing Profession: A literature review. American Journal of Nursing Science, 9(1), 35. Web.