Evidence-Based Practice Evidence-Based Practice

• Current knowledge and practice Current knowledge and practice must be based on evidence of must be based on evidence of efficacy rather than intuition, efficacy rather than intuition, tradition, or past practice. tradition, or past practice.

• The importance of employing the The importance of employing the core competency of evidence-based core competency of evidence-based practice is essential in contemporary practice is essential in contemporary professional practice.professional practice.

Evidence-Based Practice Evidence-Based Practice (cont.)(cont.)

• Evidence-based practice, a core Evidence-based practice, a core competency for health professionals competency for health professionals is defined as the use of clinical is defined as the use of clinical expertise and interventions that are expertise and interventions that are based on evidence of efficacy for based on evidence of efficacy for client outcomes and the preferences client outcomes and the preferences of the clients served. of the clients served.

Evidence-Based Practice Evidence-Based Practice (cont.)(cont.)

• Research is a process for generating Research is a process for generating scientific knowledge and utilizing the scientific knowledge and utilizing the knowledge on which to base practice. knowledge on which to base practice.

• Using evidence of efficacy for Using evidence of efficacy for practice is a vital professional practice is a vital professional attribute and a responsibility. attribute and a responsibility.

Nursing ResearchNursing Research

• Nursing research began with Nursing research began with Florence Nightingale and has Florence Nightingale and has become vital to both professionals become vital to both professionals and consumers in investigating the and consumers in investigating the domain of nursing, testing theories domain of nursing, testing theories and interventions, and and interventions, and demonstrating the efficacy and demonstrating the efficacy and efficiency of nursing actions. efficiency of nursing actions.

Nursing ResearchNursing Research(cont.)(cont.)

• Highly evident in the research Highly evident in the research priorities of the National Institute of priorities of the National Institute of Nursing ResearchNursing Research

is testing of nursing interventions that is testing of nursing interventions that promote health behaviors in promote health behaviors in individuals or individuals or

population groups. population groups.

Nursing ResearchNursing ResearchEthicsEthics

• Ethical considerations in research must Ethical considerations in research must include the four basic human rights: include the four basic human rights:

• Do no harm (beneficence) Do no harm (beneficence)

• Full disclosure Full disclosure

• Self-determination Self-determination

• Privacy and confidentiality Privacy and confidentiality

Nursing ResearchNursing Research(cont.)(cont.)

• A professional nurse should be an active A professional nurse should be an active consumer of nursing research, promoting use consumer of nursing research, promoting use of current and valid scientific knowledge and of current and valid scientific knowledge and identifying the questions to be addressed in identifying the questions to be addressed in further research. further research.

• Professional accountability demands that one Professional accountability demands that one read the literature, attend educational read the literature, attend educational sessions, use critique skills, participate in sessions, use critique skills, participate in investigations,investigations,

and promote evidence-based interventions. and promote evidence-based interventions.

Empirical ResearchEmpirical Research

Based on the strict rules of the scientific Based on the strict rules of the scientific method, with the following steps: method, with the following steps:

• Identification of the problemIdentification of the problem• Statement of the purpose Statement of the purpose • Review of the literature Review of the literature • Description of theoretical framework Description of theoretical framework • Definition of terms Definition of terms

Empirical ResearchEmpirical Research(cont.)(cont.)

• Statement of hypothesis(es) Statement of hypothesis(es)

• Selection of the research design, Selection of the research design, population, and sample population, and sample

• Approval by the IRB Approval by the IRB

• Collection of data Collection of data

• Analysis and interpretation of data Analysis and interpretation of data

• Presentation of findings and Presentation of findings and recommendations recommendations

Research CritiquesResearch Critiques

• A research critique is an objective analysis A research critique is an objective analysis of a published research report.of a published research report.

• The ultimate goal of a research critique is The ultimate goal of a research critique is to consider applicability of appropriate to consider applicability of appropriate scientific findings to one’s own scientific findings to one’s own professional practice and knowledge base. professional practice and knowledge base.

Research ProblemResearch Problem

• A research problem is the main issue A research problem is the main issue or central question that the or central question that the researcher addresses in the researcher addresses in the investigation.investigation.

• Specific research questions or Specific research questions or hypotheses flow from the main hypotheses flow from the main research problem. research problem.

Literature ReviewLiterature Review

• The literature review is a report and The literature review is a report and comparison of all pertinent prior comparison of all pertinent prior investigations on the topic, variables investigations on the topic, variables of interest, theoretical models, and of interest, theoretical models, and methods used.methods used.

• The researcher focuses on primary The researcher focuses on primary sources for a critical appraisal and sources for a critical appraisal and synthesis of what is known currently. synthesis of what is known currently.

Research VariablesResearch Variables

• Variables are concepts and constructs defined Variables are concepts and constructs defined and manipulated, controlled, or measured in a and manipulated, controlled, or measured in a research study.research study.

• Independent variables are manipulated by the Independent variables are manipulated by the researcher, such as the cause, treatment, or researcher, such as the cause, treatment, or

difference between the groups.difference between the groups. Dependent variables are the outcome variables Dependent variables are the outcome variables

that the researcher is measuring and analyzing. that the researcher is measuring and analyzing.

Hypothesis(es)Hypothesis(es)

• Hypotheses are predictions about the Hypotheses are predictions about the variables that the researcher is testing variables that the researcher is testing with a subject group. with a subject group.

• Hypothesis testing uses inferential Hypothesis testing uses inferential statistics to infer from the sample and statistics to infer from the sample and make generalizations about the make generalizations about the population. population.

Research DesignResearch Design

• The research design is the overall The research design is the overall blueprint and methods for the study.blueprint and methods for the study.

• Descriptive DesignsDescriptive Designs

• Analytical DesignsAnalytical Designs

• Experimental Designs Experimental Designs

Research MethodologyResearch Methodology

• Research methods may be quantitative or Research methods may be quantitative or qualitative. qualitative.

• Quantitative methods focus on numerical data Quantitative methods focus on numerical data that can be obtained from subjects through that can be obtained from subjects through any one or a combination of measurement any one or a combination of measurement instruments. instruments.

• Qualitative methods focus on information Qualitative methods focus on information gathered from individuals and groups, often in gathered from individuals and groups, often in their natural environment, to explore in depth their natural environment, to explore in depth their unique qualities and generate theory on their unique qualities and generate theory on a little-known topic or construct. a little-known topic or construct.

SamplingSampling

• Sampling is the use of a subset Sampling is the use of a subset (sample) of the population as a (sample) of the population as a feasible group to study and feasible group to study and ultimately generalize findings to the ultimately generalize findings to the population.population.

• Sampling StrategiesSampling Strategies– RandomizedRandomized– Non-Randomized Non-Randomized

Data CollectionData Collection

• Instruments are the measurement Instruments are the measurement tools for collecting data.tools for collecting data.

• Important considerations for use of Important considerations for use of any instrument are the reliability and any instrument are the reliability and validity of the measurement. validity of the measurement.

Data AnalysisData Analysis

• Statistics are used in analyzing Statistics are used in analyzing quantitative research methods. quantitative research methods.

• Descriptive statistics are used to Descriptive statistics are used to summarize and describe data.summarize and describe data.

• Inferential statistics are used to test Inferential statistics are used to test hypotheses, make predictions, and infer hypotheses, make predictions, and infer from the sample to the population. from the sample to the population.