How evidence-based practice works in healthcare
The healthcare industry is very different from how it used to be. We are experiencing numerous practice evolutions today, and one of the notable ones is evidence-based practice. Professionals who integrate evidence-based practice into their day-to-day practice will stand out and make marginal improvements.
How exactly does evidence-based practice (EBP) work in healthcare though, and what exactly does it mean for healthcare professionals? This article explains how evidence-based practice works in healthcare.
What does evidence-based practice mean?
According to the Journal of Nursing Administration, evidence-based practice refers to an approach that allows healthcare professionals to use the research data available to improve patient outcomes in every regard. The end goal of evidence-based practice is to improve the state of the patient’s health and safety, while cutting down on the overall costs required. Evidence-based practice comprises medical literature’s best practices and the existing preferences of the patients in question.
The modern principle of evidence-based practice has evolved from the concept of evidence-based medicine, which has existed since the 1970s and even as far back as the 19th century with Florence Nightingale. Evidence-based medicine also evolved out of the need to improve patient conditions and outcomes using accurate data and analysis, irrespective of the unsanitary conditions that healthcare providers were faced with in the 1800s.
There are four primary levels of evidence that can be generated from healthcare research. They are:
- Level A – Randomized controlled trials.
- Level B – Well-designed and non-randomized controlled trials.
- Level C – A consensus of expert opinions and medical professional findings.
- Level ML – Multi-level, which combines different sources of research findings.
Those who are new to nursing or enrolling in an Online Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice at an accredited university such as the University of Indianapolis, will likely learn about the modern-day frameworks that they will need in order to include evidence-based practice in their healthcare career.
Why is evidence-based practice important?
Understanding how evidence-based practice works is important to nurses and healthcare professionals. This is because informed decisions can be made from it, thus increasing the chances of getting a positive outcome.
When healthcare professionals decide to adopt evidence-based practice, here are some of the benefits that can evolve from it:
- An improvement in patient-care outcomes: When medical professionals use research-proven techniques and strategies, it increases the chances of getting the desired patient outcomes.
- A chance to develop clinical skills relating to healthcare: With a good combination of high-quality research and experience, healthcare professionals will see the obvious need to develop the right clinical skills that will improve their day-to-day decisions.
- Prioritization of the patients’ needs: In the end, the goal of every healthcare strategy is to improve the outcome of patient treatments and aid recovery. Evidence-based treatment will help healthcare professionals curate patients’ input and preferences in the ultimate treatment decisions.
Conclusion
Evidence-based practice gives healthcare professionals the opportunity to improve their day-to-day practice. Although it has transformed over time, it still remains an integral part of the healthcare industry.