Evidence-Based Practice - Essay Example

 Evidence-Based Practice Research: Research can be defined as an investigation, systemic in its approach, and the study of sources and materials for the purpose of establishing facts and reaching new conclusions (Oxforddictionaries.com 2013). Research forms a significant part of any field of life be it arts, humanities or science. No aspect of the human quest for knowledge is complete without ample research. In its broadest term, research simply means to undergo a process for enhancing already existing knowledge about anything. As is evident from the definition too, research is a vital component of science and scientific studies. In the field of nursing and medicine, the already existing medical knowledge is undergoing advances with every passing minute. For that matter, it is important for a student nurse or a practicing one to be in touch with these developments and a feasible way for that is research conduction. It not only broadens the horizon for the researcher but also if the conducted research is good enough it proves to be a useful tool for fellow professionals in the setting. Evidence-Based Practice: Mosby's Medical Dictionary (2009) defines Evidence-Based Practice as health care practice in which the practitioner, be it the doctor, nurse or any other healthcare professional, finds sifts through and then uses the latest and appropriate research findings for his clinical decision making. The evidence based practice has been integrated into almost all professions including medicine, nursing, psychiatry, law etc. With the ever improving sophistication of professional dealings, the responsibility increases on the shoulders of a nurse, a doctor or any other professional for that matter, to provide the best possible quality of service. This is where evidence-based practice comes into play. By developing patient-centered approaches in the delivery of quality care using the latest evidence available, evidence-based care can be implemented in nursing practice (Emanuel, et al. 2011). Clinical Guidelines: Field and Lohr (1992) define clinical practice guidelines as statements which are developed systematically in order to assist practitioners and patients alike in their decision making regarding requisite health care for various scenarios. The aim of these statements is to define the role of specific modalities of both diagnostic and therapeutic value for the management of patients. Formation of these guidelines involves a lot of research and evidence-based study established on published medical literature. The clinical guidelines put forward a set of available and generally accepted approaches specific to a particular scenario regarding diagnosis, management, and prevention of a medical condition. In general terms, the guidelines also define practices that cater for the needs of most patients. However, it is to be noted that these guidelines are not absolute in any matter and it lies on a clinician to make his final decision regarding care delivery. He should take these guidelines into consideration but then he must think over the situation at hand and mold these guidelines accordingly. Difference between Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Qualitative and quantitative research approaches both forms an integral part of the research methodology. Qualitative method deals with the inquest into the facts of nature and evaluates them without doing any numerical handling. On the other hand, quantitative research is more of a statistical one and deals with facts and figures. Naturalistic Paradigm for Qualitative Research Naturalistic paradigm is set of ideas that go along well with qualitative research and have a different set of opinion about issues. For example, they believe that there are multiplied realities that can never be understood and there is only slight understanding that can be made. Moreover, it doesn’t consider researcher and research participants as separate entities and believes them to be the same. Findings from this belief are very hard to generalize and are mostly limited to a specific case or society which actually limits the possibility of qualitative research being used at a high level(Henwood KL, Pidgeon NF (2011). The relationship of cause and effect is not defined and explained because as per the basic theory, there are multiple causes and effects that are ever-changing, so there is no specific relationship between them. This opinion makes qualitative research subjective and for researchers own value. Positivistic Paradigm for Quantitative In contrast to the naturalistic set of ideas, the school of positivistic opinion believes that there is one single reality about everything that can be measured and calculated. This increases the validity of research and many aspects can be measured and worked out keeping in mind this opinion. The relationship between cause and effect is not only established but can also be tested through this. Findings are also not limited and they are generalized for the whole population and targets a large number of people. Research is beyond the objective value and is free from researcher’s personal opinion. Moreover, there is no relationship between researcher and research participant and they are completely different and independent from each other. Importance of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Nursing practice and guidelines are not changing on regular basis. There is an extensive research that is being conducted these days which is aimed at providing better and safer facilities for patients. Therefore, it is very important for nurses to conduct evidence-based studies which are formulated on their clinical experience. In this way, they can publish their own research, get credentials and, most importantly, share their opinion and findings with others, which can play a part in the improvement of guidelines. They have to be well up to date with the peer-reviewed publications that others present because they can change the trends of their every day's dealing with patients and suggest a better solution for everyone (Polit DF, Cheryl Tatano Beck CT (n.d.)). References: Emanuel, V., Day, K., & Diegnan, L. (2011). Developing evidence-based practice among students. Nursing Times, 107(49), 21-23. Retrieved from http://www.nursingtimes.net/Journals/2011/12/08/o/q/h/111213-disc-students.pdf Field, M. J., Lohr, K. N., & Institute of Medicine (U.S.). (1992). Guidelines for clinical practice: From development to use. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press. Retrieved from: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1863&page=23 Mosby’s Medical Dictionary (2009) as quoted by TheFreeDictionary.com (2013). Evidence- Based Practice. Retrieved from: http://medicaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/evidence-based+practice Oxforddictionaries.com (2013). Definition of research (British & World English). Retrieved from: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/research Vernel E., Day K., & Diegnan L. (2011). Developing Evidence-Based Practice Among Students. Nursing Practice. Retrieved from: http://www.nursingtimes.net/developing-evidence-based-practice-among-students/5038920.article Henwood K.L., Pidgeon N, F. (2011). Qualitative research and psychological theorizing. British Journal of Psychology - Wiley Online Library. Retrieved from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1992.tb02426.x/abstract Guba E.G., Lincoln Y.S. (2013). Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research. Handbook of Qualitative Research 105-117. Retrieved from: http://www.edbengtson.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/10-guba_lincoln_94.pdf Polit D.F., Cheryl Tatano Beck C.T. (n.d.) Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. Retrieved from: http://books.google.com.pk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Ej3wstotgkQC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=importance+of+research+in+nursing&ots=weNEGUcFzk&sig=EIfd1FcoLsTXeuGgq2VYUfH1WPM#v=onepage&q=importance%20of%20research%20in%20nursing&f=false Read More