Evidence based practice

Question 1

Define what evidence based practice (EBP) is?

Answer 1

Integration of the best research evidence with clinical expertise and the patients unique values and circumstances.

Question 2

Examples of EBP can be found where in the clinical setting?

Answer 2

clinical practice guidelines, policies & procedures, and clinical pathways. All guide care but still require critical thinking

Question 3

Why is EBP important?

Answer 3

• Assists health professionals in making informed clinical decisions with the aim of improving patient outcomes
• Promotes enquiring into why we do what we do for patients and is there a better way.
• Facilitates professional accountability
• Ensures health resources are used wisely

Question 4

What is the process of EBP?

HINT: 5 A’s

Answer 4

Ask a question
Access the information
Appraise the information
Apply the information
Audit

Question 5

What is involved in asking a research question?

Answer 5

• Brainstorm (what is the motivating factor, why are you asking the question)
• Utilise PI/ECOT to clearly define your research question and guide your research

Question 6

What is involved in Accessing the research information?

Answer 6

Based on your clinical question, determine which databases will provide you with the best available evidence to answer your question, looking for a similar population, focus and context.

Question 7

Explain how to appraise research information?

Answer 7

Involves critically appraising for

• Internal validity (trustworthiness - author & results)
• impact (clinical importance)
• External validity (applicability - how well does the study apply to the population)

Question 8

What are the considerations in applying EBP into the clinical setting?

Answer 8

The evidence needs to be integrated with clinical expertise, the patient’s values & circumstances, and the clinical context.

Question 9

What does PI/ECOT stand for?

Answer 9

P = Patient/ Problem / Population (helps confirm who the question relates to)
I/E = Intervention/ Issue / Experience
C = Comparison ( not always included)
O = Outcome/s
T = Time (not always included)

Question 10

Convert the PI/ECOT into a research question?
P= Older adults with dementia
I/E = Observational behavioural pain assessment tools
C = N/A
O = Improved pain identification and management
T = N/A

Answer 10

Among older adults with dementia are behavioural observation pain assessment tools accurate in the identification and management of pain?
HINT: must only use words from the PI/ECOT

Question 11

What are Mesh headings? and what are they used for?

Answer 11

Medical subject headings is a comprehensive controlled vocabulary for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books in the life sciences. facilitates searching

Question 12

What does Truncation mean?

Answer 12

Also called stemming, is a technique that broadens your search to include various word endings and spellings.
example: nurs*
the symbol uses can vary in different databases

Question 13

What three factors aid in the implementation of guidelines?

Answer 13

• opportunity (Social & Physical)
• Motivation (Automatic & Reflective)
• Capability (psychological & Physical)

Question 14

What are the barriers to guideline implementation?

Answer 14

• context of uncertainty
• Adopter: values, skills and awareness
• organisation: settings, barriers and limitations
• Innovation: qualities of research
• Communication: presentation and accessibility of the research