Evidence-Based Practice: Integrating Research, Expertise and Values for Improved Outcomes - Essay Sample

Introduction

Evidence-Based Practice is defined as the integration of the best research evidence available together with the expertise of the clinician and the values and preferences of an individual patient in making decisions that would ultimately improve the patient's outcome. According to Chiappelli (2014), the best evidence involves up-to-date information from valid and relevant research concerning the effects of various forms of healthcare, potential harms due to exposure to particular disease agents, how accurate diagnostic tests are, as well as the predictive power of various prognostic factors.

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Components of Evidence-Based Decisions in Healthcare

Evidence-Based Decisions in Healthcare is composed of three essential components. First, it comprises of the best available evidence from clinical research that has been thoroughly conducted using clinically sound methodology (Chiappelli, 2014). This acts as the informative part of the Evidence-Based Decisions in Healthcare since it provides the required evidence upon which the clinician will conclude. According to Cullen and Sigma Theta Tau International (2018), the patient's outcome entirely depends on the clinician's ability to obtain the best evidence from an individual patient. Therefore, it requires care to carry out with well-informed research methodology that is capable of bringing the required evidences from the patient's condition (Melnyk et al., 2017).

The second component of the Evidence-Based Decisions in Healthcare is the clinical expertise of the healthcare professional. Melnyk (2015), in her book entitled "Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare: A guide to best practice," noted that clinical expertise involves knowledge, skills, and experience acquired by the healthcare professional through cumulated studies and clinical practice. Clinical experience of the healthcare professional is crucial for identifying the best available evidence from the individual patient.

The third component of the Evidence-Based Decisions in Healthcare is the patient's values. Welton and John Wiley & Sons (2012), in their book entitled "Evidence synthesis for decision making in healthcare," noted that patient's values are the unique preferences, expectations, and concerns with which individual patients bring into the clinical encounter. Patients expect the best possible medical care experience and eventual realization of the best possible outcome from the healthcare services provided to them. It is the belief that they are going to obtain the ultimate care service that inspires them to seek medical care (Melnyk, 2015). Different patients may come with different preferences and expectations of what, how, and when medical services should be delivered to them. Healthcare professionals must strike a balanced integration of these preferences and expectations of individual patients in making valid and relevant decisions (Welton, 2012).

Steps of Making Evidence-Based Decisions in Healthcare

There are five fundamental steps to achieve effective Evidence-Based Decisions in Healthcare. They are as follows.

Formulating Answerable Questions

Asking well-designed clinical questions is one of the basic skills necessary to facilitate effective Evidence-Based Decisions for improving patient's outcome (Chiappelli, 2014). While formulating the answerable and relevant questions, the main focus is on what matters. The questions asked should be specific, measurable, accurate, realistic, and timely to avoid burdening the patient with questions which leads to no particular usable evidence. Cullen and Sigma Theta Tau International (2018) recommend asking questions based on the patient's encounters, which lead to knowledgeable understanding and analysis of specific diagnosis, therapy, etiology, or prognosis. This brings information required for the treatment decisions. It is a very fundamental step in coming up with any Evidence-Based Decisions in healthcare (Melnyk et al., 2017).

Finding the Best Available Evidence

After asking the answerable questions, the next step involves determining the relevant evidence from the answers provided by the patient. Cullen and Sigma Theta Tau International (2018) noted that this step requires the healthcare professional to pinpoint specific terms used in constructing the questions to come up with the right answers that might lead to spotting specific evidence that leads to the patient's real nature of their circumstances. Based on the answers from the patient, the clinical professional can identify the best possible evidence necessary for making the right decision to improve the patient's outcome (Chiappelli, 2014).

Appraise the Evidence

Critical appraisal of the identified evidence is key to arriving at the best possible evidence of the patient's presentation. An appraisal is essential to help in eliminating some of the things that might seem interesting but are weak (Chiappelli, 2014). The healthcare professional should seek to understand every question that was addressed during the study, determine the validity of methods applied, results of the study, and find out if these results are applicable in that particular case. The thorough appraisal would enhance acquisition of finer details concerning the patient's presentation and give the best understanding of what should be done to solve the problem (Melnyk et al., 2017).

Implementing the Evidence

At this stage, the clinical professional makes the relevant decision based on the best available evidenced that has been determined with careful consideration of their clinical expertise together with the patient's specific values, preferences, and expectations. Implementing these clinical decisions can then be justified to be evidence-based because the right procedure has been taken to come up with the decision (Melnyk, 2015).

Evaluating the Patient's Outcome

After making the clinical decision, the healthcare professional should determine if the decision made was efficient and effective in solving that problem. Evaluation entails finding out if the application of the new information the patient's case was effective to see if it is recommendable for use in future practice. The healthcare professional also determines specific points in the process that might need some improvement next time while conducting Evidence-Based Decisions in improving patient's outcome (Chiappelli, 2014).

Importance of Evidence-Based Decisions in Healthcare

Evidence-Based Decisions in Healthcare are significant because they help in determining the best possible care available in a particular healthcare setting that the patient can be given to improve their outcome (Welton, 2012). It promotes the capacity and skills of healthcare professionals in coming p with specific decisions necessary for providing efficient and effective healthcare to patients (Melnyk et al., 2017). It promotes understanding of the healthcare professionals' work so that they may gain experience in providing the ultimate care to various patients. Moreover, Evidence-Based Decisions also enhance the wise use of available resources in healthcare (Welton, 2012).

References

Chiappelli, F. (2014). Fundamentals of evidence-based health care and translational science.

Cullen, L., & Sigma Theta Tau International,. (2018). Evidence-based practice in action: Comprehensive strategies, tools, and tips from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Melnyk, B. M. (2015). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare: A guide to best practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Melnyk, B. M., Gallagher-Ford, L., Fineout-Overholt, E., & Sigma Theta Tau International,. (2017). Implementing the evidence-based practice (EBP) competencies in healthcare: A practical guide to improving quality, safety, and outcomes.

Welton, N. J. (2012). Evidence synthesis for decision making in healthcare. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley.

Welton, N. J., & John Wiley & Sons. (2012). Evidence synthesis for decision making in healthcare. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.