Evidence – based practice (EBP) can be defined as an approach that requires all decisions related to health care to be founded the best, most current, connected and valid evidence (Watt, 2018). In evidence – based practice, decisions are made by the patients who are informed through sharing knowledge by health care providers while considering the resources that are available (Lipman, n.d). In recent years, EBP has become an expectation of most healthcare professionals and a means to advance the occupation and ensure that professional therapists provide quality treatment.
Evidence – based practice consists of a number of steps. These steps include: asking clinical related questions, looking for and gathering relevant and best evidence that is available, integrating the collected evidence into an individual’s clinical knowledge, values and predilection, and assessment and evaluation of outcomes that result from practice decision or revamping of evidence (Ridsdale, 2003). Therefore, the implementation of the EBP approach incorporates the use of the above mentioned steps and approaches that promote the integration of best evidence with knowledge and available resources.
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In primary care setting, EBP is used in providing data analysis for evidence research, suggesting easily understandable procedures, and application of internet-based databases, which can only be accessed at the workplace. The data analysis obtained in EBP helps physicians in the identification of patient safety issues, and provides guidelines based on recent practices that will result to improved patient well-being. The guidelines that are obtained in EBP mainly include of clinical practice guidelines and high quality guidelines. These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations that enable physicians to choose effective interventions that help in the achievement of desired outcomes. Research findings obtained also require that a clinician have necessary knowledge and expertise to access, evaluate, and apply research evidence in making decisions. The best evidence includes empirical evidence from randomized controlled trials; evidence from scientific principles as well as use of data from case reports.
The CNA code of ethics consists of several primary values. One of the major values is accountability. Information proliferation, attention to results and improving quality, pressure from the society to get the best care that is based on current and reliable evidence underpin the existing efforts in nursing and general health care system to improve practice grounded on evidence (Watt, 2018). Evidence – based practice has a number of positive impacts on the health care system. In cases where the approach is applied in a setting or environment in which caring exists and an organizational culture which advocates for best practices, evidence – based practice is related to high and improved quality of care and improved patient outcomes than an approach that is rooted in tradition (Watt, 2018).
Evidence – based practice also minimizes changes in practice and encourages more consistency in health care provision and significantly contributes to care quality and improves patient safety standards. EBP results to improved satisfaction on the part of health care personnel too. This also includes added nurse autonomy. Stress related to work that nurses experience at times is also dramatically reduced in environments where evidence – based principles are implemented. At the health care system level, applying evidence – based practice on health care practices that include nursing has been portrayed ton reduce health care costs and lead to increased cost – effectiveness.
Evidence based practice can be applied throughout lifespan. It is applied in a systematic manner. This includes of examination a patient’s situation followed by establishment of scientific evidence, and finally application of clinical expertise in respect to EBP a specific age group. In the first stage, examination of a patient’s situation, clinicians usually recognize disease determinants and treatment outcomes. This involves comprehensive assessment and investigation of patients. This creates awareness for the physician regarding the patient’s physical, psychological, and social functioning in respect to the treatment objective.
The second stage involves the generation of scientific evidence for specific diseases, treatment guidelines, and access of existing evidence to determine effectiveness of the chosen EBP approach. The final stage includes the application of clinical expertise. This requires that clinical professionals understand the specific needs of their patients, that is, have knowledge on pathophysiology of the ageing process throughout lifespan. This helps physicians in decision making for effective treatment.
There is an influx of scientific knowledge that is in circulation. This makes it challenging for primary care providers remain updated on the best health care practices. Actually, for primary health care doctors and nurses to remain current, they would require to read a lot of books throughout their professional practice which is impossible to achieve (Lipman, n.d). However, evidence – based practice helps primary care providers a way of remaining updated on the best health care practices by using interventions that are evidence – based.
In conclusion, evidence – based practice is relevant primary care and offers a number of benefits to both patients and health care providers. The approach aims at directing current knowledge and evidence to primary care decisions in order to improve the care process and better patient outcomes. A number of reports from investigations in the health care system show some main deficits in the health care systems that are as a result of major preventable danger. However, with the adoption and implementation of evidence – based practices in primary care provision, preventable harm can be avoided and improve outcomes. Therefore, evidence – based practices offers a big promise for taking health care provision to a higher level and most likely produces the desired outcomes.
Reference
Lipman, T. (n.d). Evidence-based Practice in General Practice and Primary Care. Evidence-based Practice, 35-65. doi:10.1002/9780470699003.ch3
Ridsdale, L. (2003). Evidence-based practice in primary care . Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Watt, I. (2018). Evidence-based practice. Clinical Governance in Primary Care, 63-74. Doi: 10.1201/9781315375687-6
