Evidence-Informed Nursing Practice Preparation Notes

Developing Evidence-Informed Practice in Nursing

Importance of Evidence-Informed Practice (EIP)

• Historical Context: The journey from evidence to practice has often been lengthy; for example:

  • 1617: John Woodall suggested citrus for scurvy prevention.
  • 1747: James Lind conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) showing citrus's efficacy in treating scurvy.
  • 1795: British navy adopted citrus, marking a 48-year delay from evidence to action.

• Current Knowledge Gap: There is an estimated 17-year gap between evidence generation and its implementation in practice.

Core Components of EIP

• Components of Evidence-Informed Practice:
  • Clinical experience
  • Patient perspectives and values
  • Best available scientific evidence
  • Available resources
  • Local issues and context

Barriers to Implementing EIP

• Challenges:
  • Communication difficulties.
  • Difficulty in finding applicable studies.
  • Poorly designed studies that lack practical implications.
  • Financial and time constraints.
  • Knowledge deficits among clinicians.
  • Insufficient time to engage with and apply research findings.