Evidence-Based Practice in Healthcare Setting

Introduction

In the line of duty, healthcare providers need to offer the best services to their patients. Over many years, nurse practitioners and other medical staff have had challenges in meeting the needs of their clients, which forced them to embark on research. This research aims to collect, process, and implement the research findings to improve clinical practice; this is defined as evidence-based practice (EBP). Also, the EBP focuses on improving the work environment and patient outcomes (Shelton et al., 2018). Although many benefits have been assured with implementing evidence-based practices, the whole process has faced some challenges or barriers. These barriers are collectively affecting the implementation of the EBP in the healthcare setting. There is, therefore, a need to develop models that would help eliminate these barriers. This research highlights some barriers to implementing evidence-based practice in healthcare and the strategies for overcoming such barriers.

Some common barriers have been experienced following various attempts to implement evidence-based practice in healthcare. These barriers are broadly categorized as individual barriers and organizational barriers. Some of the common individual barriers include lack of professional characteristics, which entails little choice on EBP tools, as well as lack of professional autonomy concerning its implementation. Also, nurses lack awareness, knowledge, and skills concerning EBP implementation (Alatawi et al., 2020). Another challenge or barrier concerns the experience and attitude of nurse practitioners; this makes them resistant to change from the traditional practice to EBP. Though not so much a weighted barrier to implementing evidence-based practice, the language barrier stands out as an issue of concern. A good example of this is implementing the practice among the Chinese, who do not understand research written in the English language.

Additionally, the implementation of EBP is impacted adversely by organizational barriers. Some of these barriers include limited organization resources, especially with healthcare, which have been among the most significant barriers to implementing the EBP. A common resource that has been limited is access to computers and internet access at the workplace. Another challenge is the lack of support and supervision from the managers and other medical officials, who should be at the forefront of implementing EBP. Besides, there have been issues with inadequate time; as the implementation was deemed time-consuming, most healthcare would not opt-in for the implementation. It is through the inadequacy with time where, most nurse practitioners are not trained on implementing research into practice (Alatawi et al., 2020). Nurses, therefore, lack skills on how to incorporate evidence-based practice in their roles, thus low-quality services to patients.

Although these barriers have been persistent in most healthcare settings, some solutions can be sought. Some of the models offer long-lasting solutions to these challenges. They include stakeholder engagement to build trust and learn. Upon identification of the outcome measures, they can successfully implement EBP. Additionally, it is important to offer administrative support towards implementing the practice, which ranges from training and resources (Rickbeil & Simones, 2012). This part of the support needed, which determines the success of the project, administrators serve an important role in shaping the institution's culture. Changing how organization addresses change with the total involvement of all stakeholders is a sure way to achieve acceptance and, thus, implement EBP in the healthcare setting, which in turn yields quality outcomes on patients.

References

Alatawi, M., Aljuhani, E., Alsufiany, F., Aleid, K., Rawah, R., Aljanabi, S., & Banakhar, M. (2020). Barriers of implementing evidence-based practice in nursing profession: A literature review. American Journal of Nursing Science, 9(1), 35-42.

Rickbeil, P., & Simones, J. (2012). Overcoming barriers to implementing evidence-based practice: a collaboration between academics and practice. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 28(2), 53-56.

Shelton, R. C., Cooper, B. R., & Stirman, S. W. (2018). The sustainability of evidence-based interventions and practices in public health and health care. Annual review of public health, 39, 55-76.