Evidence based practice (EBP) is a process through which decisions are reached based on scientific and clinical principles. Through EBP, the preferences and values of patients are harnessed to ensure that there is a cohesive healthcare program. Evidence based practice is subject to various challenges including conflicting personal preferences and beliefs (Bostrom, Rudman, Ehrenberg & Wallin, 2013). EPB changes are often slowed down by inadequacies of time and finances. These two factors are necessary in order to sensitize medical practitioners and patients among other healthcare stakeholders about EBP. This essay outlines a plan for resources that can be used to support EBP changes in a clinical setting.
The challenges that are encountered during the implementation of EBP changes can be overcome through the co-operation of all healthcare stakeholders. To ensure closer interaction between the patients and healthcare providers, the human resource departments are required to institute measures that will streamline the progress of the EBP plan. These measures include employing healthcare staff that are drawn from various communities, genders, age groups, and social classes among other social groupings. This strategy will lead to a comprehensive understanding of the tastes, preferences, and tastes of patients from these social groups. Where it is not possible to have a large number of healthcare staff who are drawn from various social groups, it would be expedient to equip the contemporary staff with skills that can enable them to understand the environment that they are working in. Consequently, the healthcare staff will be able to deliver health services effectively. Healthcare workers should also be sensitized on the need to respect and uphold patients’ likings to enable the latter feel as part of the medical practice. This is a very important step considering the patients and healthcare practitioners could be from different social settings and hence have differing beliefs.
A substantial amount of financial capital should be committed to EBP research in order for professionals to understand the tastes, likes, dislikes, and beliefs that are associated with individuals from each social setting or group. This financial strategy will enable the healthcare providers to understand their patients in a better manner. Consequently, the healthcare professionals will be prepared to serve their clients to the best of their ability. Inadequacy of information concerning finance can be a major hindrance to the progress of EBP. People of different communities, nations, races, and even religions have varying beliefs that should be taken into consideration if EBP is to be harnessed.
Concepts are better comprehended when they are practiced as opposed to when they are read theoretically. The ability of healthcare professionals’ leadership to appreciate EBP directly corresponds to its increased application in their daily working environment (Miake-Lye, Hempel, Ganz & Shekelle, 2013). The health facility management should embrace EBP and encourage its use in healthcare centers. The leaders should carry out extensive training across all departments of healthcare facilities to educate their staff on the practice. In addition, a reliable system of monitoring employee-activity should be set up to ensure that staff members are able to apply their knowledge of EBP ethically.
Healthcare facilities’ management should be flexible enough to accommodate the preferences of some communities in order for practitioners to deliver health services in the most appropriate method. This move would be necessary especially in communities that do not have a static lifestyle like the nomadic communities. Offering healthcare to an ever-moving people requires mastery of the EBP. Nevertheless, when a good understanding exists between the health care providers and the community, it is easy for EBP changes to be achieved.
References
Bostrom, A, Rudman, A, Ehrenberg, A, & Wallin, L. (2013). Factors associates with evidence-based practice among registered nurses in Sweden: A national cross-sectional study. BMC Health Services Research, 2(13), 165- 177.
Miake-Lye, I., Hempel, S, Ganz, D. & Shekelle, P. (2013). Inpatient fall prevention programs as a patient safety strategy. Annals of Internal Medicine, 15(8), 390-396.