Evidence-based practice uses the best current scientific evidence in care delivery. Studies have, however, acknowledged that implementing evidence-based practice has been challenging. This is attributed to various factors. One of these factors revolves around caregivers’ knowledge level (Greenhalgh, 2019). That is, there is a linear relationship between the level of knowledge and experience and the use of evidence-based material. The linear relationship occurs because the level of knowledge and experience determines the translation of scientific evidence and informs its use in the delivery of care (Hain, 2017). The above determination indicates that low knowledge and experience hinder evidence-based practice. This is because nurses and other healthcare providers cannot interpret and translate scientific evidence to the detriment of the patient.
Similarly, studies such as Degu et al. (2022) have established that 47% of healthcare givers within healthcare settings use scientific evidence in their clinical practice. The 47% usage, when compared to the mathematical average of 50%, the level of use of evidence-based material can be described as below average. Other than the level of knowledge, healthcare givers only use evidence-based practice if they have support from the administration. Support from the administration can manifest as offering adequate and effective infrastructure and resources to be used in care delivery. Other barriers occur because healthcare workers have negative attitudes toward using evidence-based practice because of the lack of an induction and training process.
The Scope and Relevance of the Issue
This study focuses on implementing evidence-based practice among healthcare workers in clinical settings and the challenges experienced in using evidence-based practice. As mentioned above, approximately 47% of healthcare workers use evidence-based practice. This indicates that 53% of healthcare workers do not use evidence-based practice. This is detrimental to the patients because of exposing them to risks associated with medical errors. In America, the fatalities by medical errors are estimated at 25000 people, while the incidence of medical errors is approximately 440000 (Jordan et al.,2019). Identifying the barriers to using evidence-based practice will help reduce the incidence and fatalities of medical errors. Medical errors occur in clinical practice because of failing to use standard practice and identifying adverse reactions in patients; identifying barriers to evidence-based practice will help inform mechanisms to increase evidence-based material among healthcare workers in clinical settings.
Recommendations
The above discussion creates a need for programs that will facilitate the implementation of evidence-based care in clinical settings. One of the programs will involve partnering with key healthcare stakeholders to train healthcare workers on translating and interpreting evidence-based material. Similarly, an induction process can change negative attitudes among healthcare workers. The Kubler -Ross change curve, a change management model, highlights that during a change process, healthcare workers are exposed to anger, denial, acceptance, and bargaining as change processes (Shayan et al.,2019). The induction process helps highlight the relevance of evidence-based practice in care delivery. This will limit resistance by helping healthcare workers understand the importance of evidence-based practice. The induction process will be procedural, as the main objective s to create a positive mentality toward using evidence-based practice. The institutions need to offer adequate resources to facilitate the change; examples of these resources are the availability of electronic health records and accessibility to the authentic academic database.
References
Greenhalgh, T. (2019). How to read a paper: The basics of evidence-based medicine and healthcare Links to an external site. .(6th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Hain, D. (2017). Focusing on the fundamentals: Comparing and contrasting nursing research and quality improvement Links to an external site. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 44(6), 541-543.
Jordan, Z., Lockwood, C., Munn, Z., & Aromataris, E. (2019). The updated Joanna Briggs Institute model of evidence-based healthcare. JBI Evidence Implementation, 17(1), 58-71.
Shayan, S. J., Kiwanuka, F., & Nakaye, Z. (2019). Barriers associated with evidence‐based practice among nurses in low‐and middle‐income countries: A systematic review. Worldviews on Evidence‐Based Nursing, 16(1), 12-20.
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