No abstract available.
Evidence-Based Practice* ; Humans

PURPOSE: The disparity between conducting research and putting it into practice has remains a global healthcare issue, with less than 50% of nurses utilizing research. This study aims to determine the level and relationship between Evidence-based practice (EBP) competency, current EBP beliefs and research utilization among nurses. DESIGN AND METHOD: This quantitative study utilized a descriptive-correlational design and mediation analysis. A purposive sampling was used to select six Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) hospitals. Simple random sampling was used to recruit 544 nurses from the six CHAG hospitals. The study utilized mean and standard deviation, Pearson Correlation, ANOVA, and GLS mediation analysis. The researcher obtained ethical approval from the Saint Louis University Research Ethics committee and, the institutional review board of the CHAG. FINDINGS: The results showed that nurses had a low level of EBP competency (M=2.27, SD= 0.255), strong positive EBP beliefs (M=2.58, SD=0.322) and low research utilization (M=2.57, SD=0.300). There was a moderately significant positive relationship between EBP competency and research utilization (r= .431, p= .000), EBP competency and EBP beliefs (r= .327, p= .000) and EBP beliefs and research utilization (r= .306, p= .000). There is no significant difference in terms of EBP competency and research utilization when EBP training attendance was considered. Nurses with 1-2 years of experience had a higher level of EBP competency. Theatre nurses had a higher level of EBP competency, however, emergency nurses had a lower level of research utilization than nurses in the surgical unit. EBP beliefs mediated the relationship (B= 0.0604, z= 3.99, p < .001) between EBP competency and research utilization. CONCLUSIONS Nurses in CHAG hospitals have a limited ability to implement the EBP process. The respondent perceived the value of EBP in nursing practice to be significant and has the confidence to implement the EBP process. The nurses' respondents use of research in nursing practice is limited due to the organizational barriers in CHAG institutions in Ghana. Based on the findings, it is recommended for nurse administrators and policy makers to prioritize the provision of adequate resources, support, EBP policies and targeted training programs to facilitate a culture of evidence-based practice and research utilization in CHAG institutions. By improving EBP competency and promoting research utilization, nurses can enhance the quality and safety of patient care.
Evidence-based practice ; Competencies

Background: Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of an individual patient. It integrates clinical expertise, best evidences and patient's values through the implementation of 5 EBP processes: Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply and Assess which improve both patient care and clinical practice every time the cycle completes its turn. Despite of its effectiveness, implementation of EBP is a challenge. Variations and inconsistencies in the implementation of the EBP processes were found due to different factors and barriers. Philippines shares the same challenges and barriers in the implementation of EBP process but no local study has been found on the extent of implementation of EBP processes among Physical Therapist. Objectives: This study determines the extent of the EBP processes implemented by PT clinicians in PLMaffiliated institutions. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey that made use of a developed and validated questionnaire which collected the data on demographic profile: age, gender and year graduated, highest educational attainment and the extent of EBP process implementation of Physical Therapist in PLM – affiliation centers. Results: Ninety-three PTs responded in the study. 89.2% (n=83) has BSPT as their highest educational attainment. 2.2% (n=2) has Masters while 3.2% (n=3) has Doctorate in Physical Therapy. EBP is implemented by respondents. Asking clinical questions was implemented at a high extent (composite mean = 2.88) while searching for evidence (2.17), critical appraisal (2.25), use or integration of research (2.46), evaluation of outcomes (2.1) were implemented at a low extent. Conclusion Although, EBP processes has been implemented in the local university's affiliation, majority of the processes were implemented at a low extent except for asking clinical questions, which was implemented at a high extent. Greater efforts on addressing common barriers have been recommended to be able to fully implement EBP practice.
Evidence-Based Practice

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The study assessed the EBP beliefs and implementation of staff nurses in the Ilocos Region.

METHODS: A sample size of 384 nurses was surveyed in this cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study approved by the Saint Louis University - Research Ethics Committee. They were selected through simple random sampling in seven (7) different government and private training hospitals in the Ilocos Region. The EBP Beliefs Scale (EBP-B) and EBP Implementation Scale (EBP-I) were used to collect the data on the respondents' EBP Beliefs and Implementation respectively. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation; and inferential statistics such as Spearman rank correlation.

FINDINGS: The mean total score of 58.57 indicated that the respondents have no full commitment or belief to EBP but the possibility exists. The overall mean rating of 3.63 signified that they "Agree" on the statements in the EBPB scale in general. On the EBP implementation, a mean summative score of 28.06 specified that the respondents implemented EBPbetween 1 to 3 times but less than 4 times in the past eight weeks. The overall mean rating was calculated at 1.56 suggestive that EBPis "Rarely implemented". Moreover, this study established a weak positive correlation between the respondents' EBPBeliefs and EBPImplementation [r (384) = 0.252, p < 0.001].

CONCLUSION: This study has shown that nurses in the Ilocos region are positive about their knowledge of, confidence in and belief about EBP but are not fully committal to it. However, in spite of having positive EBP belief, their implementation of EBP was rare or low. The study was able to elicit that EBPimplementation is significantly associated by the held beliefs on EBP by the respondents.

Evidence-based Practice

While the definition of EBM can be straightforward in other medical field, family and community medicine practitioners take on very different roles in different health systems. Despite the challenges presented, EBM is still necessary in family and community practice. Family and community medicine practitioners must be able to obtain, assess, apply and integrate new knowledge based on available evidence throughout their professional life. From the definition of EBM and the nature of family practice described previously, we propose to define “Evidence-based Family Practice as the conscientious and judicious use of the current, relevant, applicable and best available evidence in making shared clinical decisions for patient care. Such decisions must account for the capacity and setting of the family practitioner and patient preference”. The proposed steps are: 1) Framing the Clinical Problem, 2) Searching for the Evidence, 3) Critical Appraisal, 4) Informing the Patient About the Evidence, 5) Shared Decision Making, and 6) Evaluation of the Decision.
Evidence-Based Medicine ; Evidence-Based Practice

Evidence-Based Medicine ; Evidence-Based Practice ; Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Family and community practitioners sometimes will decide on what community-oriented interventions to propose and implement. The cost and effectiveness of such interventions are often debated by policy makers. A set of formal, quantitative methods for comparing alternative strategies in resource use and expected outcomes is known as health economic analysis. This article presents a tool to help family and community practitioners decide on the cost and effectiveness of such interventions.
Evidence-Based Practice ; Economics, Medical

Evidence-Based Practice ; Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Evidence-Based Practice ; Practice Guidelines as Topic