OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to develop and to pilot-test a tailored introductory Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) training program for registered nurses. Despite the recognized importance of EBP in nursing, many practicing nurses lacked formal training and confidence in its application. This study addressed the gap in accessible and entry-level EBP education designed specifically for EBP competency among nurses.

A quasi-experimental one-group pretest-post test design was employed in this study. A convenient sample of 23 registered nurses from a tertiary educational institution in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines had participated in the pilot testing. The introductory EBP Training Program was developed based on core EBP competencies and structured into a modular format. The program was delivered in a computer laboratory setting and conducted for eight to ten hours. The training included lectures, guided case-based discussions, and hands-on exercises covering each step of the EBP process.

Data were collected using the Academic Center for Evidence-Based Practice Readiness Inventory (ACE-ERI) before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using paired sample t-tests to assess differences in pre- and post-intervention scores. All analyses were conducted using SPSS version 26. Ethical approval was obtained from the Holy Angel University Institutional Review Board (HAU-IRB).

The EBP training program resulted in a statistically significant improvement in both knowledge and confidence in using evidence-based practice. Participants' knowledge scores increased from a pre-test mean of 7.04 (SD = 1.72) to a post-test mean of 8.30 (SD = 1.87), while confidence scores rose from 64.61 (SD = 17.32) to 88.43 (SD = 16.80). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests confirmed the significance of these improvements in both EBP knowledge (Z = -4.16, p < .001) and confidence (Z = -3.56, p < .001).

The study demonstrated that the evidence-based practice (EBP) training program led to a significant improvement in nurses' knowledge and skills, as evidenced by the marked difference in pre- and post-test scores. EBP training programs can effectively enhance healthcare professionals' capacity to integrate evidence into clinical practice. Based on these findings, healthcare organizations should consider incorporating EBP training into regular professional development programs for nurses. EBP training programs should focus on fostering practical application skills and include more case-based learning to further reinforce the integration of EBP in clinical decision-making. Lastly, future researches may explore focusing on long-term outcomes of EBP training, including its impact on patient care and organizational practices, to assess the sustainability of the knowledge gained through such interventions. Overall, by enhancing EBP training and supporting its widespread adoption, healthcare systems can further improve the quality of patient care and promote a culture of continuous learning and evidence-based decision-making.

Databases, Bibliographic ; Evidence-based Practice ; Health Services Needs And Demand

The effective implementation of clinical practice guideline(CPG), as a crucial vehicle of evidence-based medicine, plays a vital role in improving healthcare quality and patient safety. Currently, there remains a significant gap between the actual implementation outcomes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) guidelines and their intended objectives, which necessitates a systematic investigation into their influencing factors to optimize implementation strategies. This study aims to comprehensively identify the factors influencing CPG implementation in China, adapt the theoretical domains framework(TDF) to the local context, and integrate TCM-specific characteristics to provide recommendations for optimizing the development and implementation processes of TCM guidelines. Systematic search was conducted across multiple databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, and EMbase, covering the period from each database's inception to March 2024. Qualitative and mixed-methods studies were included to examine factors affecting the implementation of clinical practice guidelines. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the critical appraisal skills programme(CASP) tool. RESULTS:: were synthesized through framework analysis and thematic synthesis, and expert consensus was achieved via a structured consensus meeting. A total of 16 studies involving 2 388 participants were included with overall good methodological quality. Based on the TDF, 43 influencing factors across 14 domains were identified. The most critical factors included the quality of guideline evidence, training and academic conferences organized by hospitals and academic institutions to promote guideline adoption among medical staff, support from professional leaders for guideline implementation, the applicability and clarity of guideline recommendations, and material resources(supplies, funding, and facilities) required for implementation. Additionally, influencing factors of TCM guideline implementation were identified, including the distinctive advantages of TCM therapies, the applicability of syndrome differentiation, and the feasibility of TCM treatments. Based on these findings, it is recommended that TCM guideline development should incorporate these unique influencing factors to formulate high-quality, clear, and actionable recommendations. Following guideline publication, healthcare and academic institutions should strengthen training and dissemination efforts and ensure the availability of necessary implementation resources to facilitate the successful adoption of guidelines in clinical practice.
China ; Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Evidence-Based Medicine

Allergic asthma, a major phenotype of bronchial asthma, shares similarities and differences with non-allergic asthma in its pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approach and criteria, and intervention strategies. The "Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic asthma (2019, the first edition)" established a framework for standardizing clinical practice relating to this condition in China. Based on the first edition, this guideline combines recent research progress and novel clinical evidence to supplement and revise the epidemiology, pathogenesis, common allergens, clinical manifestations, diagnostic techniques and standards, treatment and prevention principles of allergic asthma. Key amendments were made to the definition and underlying mechanisms, allergen detection techniques, and endotype assessment. Based on the current landscape of allergic asthma management in China, the updated guidelines provide tailored diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations, especially for allergen-specific immunotherapy, biologic-targeted therapies, and tertiary prevention strategies. A total of 14 evidence-based recommendations are proposed, serving as a clinical reference (guiding document) for optimizing the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of allergic asthma in China.
Humans ; Asthma/therapy* ; China ; Allergens ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Evidence-Based Medicine

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

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

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 medicine is the foundation of current medical practice. Suitable evidence is needed to support the holistic approach in clinical practice. Quantitative research produces some evidence needed for disease treatment based on probabilities or averages. However, the practice of evidence-based medicine should be personalised to individual patients without relying solely on an average perspective. Beliefs, values and expectations are unique for each individual and may differ significantly from the average. Therefore, understanding individual differences requires evidence from qualitative research. This is particularly important in family medicine practice, which focuses on holistic care for the person, family and community. Findings from properly conducted qualitative research can offer in-depth and comprehensive accounts on healthcare issues from patient and practice perspectives. Qualitative research also provides explanatory power and analytical transferability, which can be applied into daily family medicine practice. In conclusion, evidence from qualitative research should be rightfully equally acknowledged in family medicine and healthcare.
Family Practice ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Qualitative research

In order to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment decision-making with traditional Chinese medicine for pa-tients of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) and put the latest clinical study evidence into clinical practice, the international trust-worthy traditional Chinese medicine recommendations( TCM Recs) working group started the compilation of Living Evidence-based Guideline for Combination of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Treatment of COVID-19 on the basis of the standards and re-quirements of WHO handbook, GRADE and RIGHT. This proposal mainly introduces the formulation methods and processes of the living guidelines in details, such as the composition of the working group, the collection and identification of clinical issues and out-comes, the production of the living systematic review and the consensus of recommendations. The guidelines will continue to monitor the clinical study evidences of TCM in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, and conduct regular evidence updating, retrieval and screening. When there is new study evidence, the steering committee will evaluate the possibility of the evidence to change clinical practice or previous recommendations, so as to decide whether the recommendations for the guidelines shall be implemented or upda-ted. The main criteria considered in the guideline updating are as follows:(1) There are new high-quality randomized controlled trial(RCT) evidences for TCM uninvolved in the previous edition of the guidelines;(2) as for the TCM involved in the guidelines, living sys-tematic review shows that new evidence may change the direction or strength of the existing recommendations. The specific implementation of the living evidence-based guidelines will take this proposal as the study basis and framework, in order to ensure the standardization of the formulation process and methods. This will be the first exploration of the methodology for living guidelines in the field of TCM.
COVID-19/therapy* ; China ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; SARS-CoV-2

To sort out the existing problems within the published 35 evidence-based acupuncture-moxibustion clinical practice guidelines (group standards) in Chinese: the development methods and the development process are not clear and strict enough; the evidence evaluation system fails to fully reflect the characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion. Therefore,
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; Evidence-Based Practice ; Moxibustion