Evidence Based Practice

In the clinical setting, it is now expected that health care practitioners adopt evidence based practice to ensure high quality care and patient safety is maintained (Tuite & George 2010). Adopting an evidence based approach in healthcare will also help to ensure that, the care provided, is more likely to be cost effective and will result in positive patient outcomes (Jones & Bourgeouis 2007, p. 88; Bevan 2010, p. 142). However the research and evidence provided is always changing therefore it is important for health professionals to continually stay up to date and further develop their knowledge in relation to their field of practice (Timmins & Pallen 2002, p. 100). This can be a difficult task and not all health professionals utilise research
101). However many do not read the research due to their inability to understand or use the information provided. This can also be due to a lack of confidence in themselves and the belief that they do not believe they have the authority to make a change in the policies within their workplace (McDonnell 2004, p. 189). Other barriers such as “old school beliefs” or disinterest will also prevent health practitioners from researching and updating their knowledge on their practices (Lehman, 2009).

Barriers related to the setting also include lack of time during work to research and read, especially during work hours with high work loads (Bryar et al 2003, p. 77; McDonnell 2004, p. 190) and “organisational barriers to change” such as the lack of authority to change procedures, the lack of cooperation from the managers and the difficulty to make changes in a larger organisation (McDonnell 2004, p. 190).

To help enhance research utilisation, the barriers need to be broken down to help health care professionals easily access the research information that is available. (McDonnell 2004, p.
Creating a supportive researching environment by providing on the job training, educational resources and discussion groups will help to maintain the researching in clinical environments (Sitzia 2002, p. 239). The inability to access the information can also be overcome by the organisation offering information and communication technologies training which means offering education and support on how to use computers in gaining access to databases and educational resources, as many evidence based materials are only accessible through the internet and library resources and many clinicians do not use them (Gagnon et al 2009).

Breaking down the barriers to research utilisation and using these strategies to overcome them will help to increase research and promote evidence based practice. However this can not be achieved by just the individual, it requires the organisation to implement changes to facilitate research utilisation. (McDonnell 2004, p. 196; Bevan 2010, p.