Implementation of evidence-based practices (EBP) in healthcare
In every healthcare facility, all providers all profoundly challenged to provide high-quality services and therefore, it is crucial to enhance efficiency for every activity to manage to achieve high-quality demand.
Using Lowa model an individual can focus on practical implementing (EBP) evidence-based practice and this is achieved through the application of seven simple steps of the model in the process of enhancing evidence (Zhao, Duan, Liu, Han & Jiang, 2016).
The seven steps of Lowa model includes a selection of the EBP topic, the formation of a reliable team, retrieving the evidence, evaluating and grading the evidence, developing a standard for the EBP, implementing the EPB and evaluating the practices for confirmation of value and contribution of the EBP.
Application of the Lowa model in EBP changes
The first step of this model (selection of the EBP topic) focuses on ensuring that the topic for the EBP have the adequate potential and capability to improve care using appropriate and flexible strategies, and accessible in a multidimensional nature. Therefore this model foster for effective use of PICOT
The second step (formation of a reliable team) ensures all stakeholders’ concerns to the issues according to the topic or area of interest are adequately considered hence promoting more successful practices in healthcare by integrating profession in evidence-based activities.
The third step of the Lowa model also makes it better to integrate better evidence in healthcare by encouraging the use of electronic databases such as Cinahl, Blackwell Synergy and Web of science. Using the model also ensures confirmation of quality through approved bodies such as Quality Improvement and the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (QIIP). This step ensures the use of standardized evidence practices and therefore using it will help to exercise consistently in the actual healthcare practices.
Using this model will help to changes the perspective of EBP as quantitative oriented by incorporating qualitative research technic in clinical practices. With this model, the subjective perspective of the non-numerical variable becomes a crucial element that cannot healthcare provider are starting to appreciate. This enhances EBP from by giving a more inclusive picture of the likely real outcome of given healthcare activities.
Lowa model promotes standardization and legalization of EBP in healthcare hence making the implementation process a common practice with specific guidelines need for deriving universal meaning and effectiveness to the entire healthcare sector. It promotes the appropriateness and feasibility of EBP, leading to more reliability and validity of clinical practices.
Application of change curve theory in EBP changes
Change is inevitable, but every individual responds differently to different types of changes. Change curve theory provides an understanding of how people, organization and society react to new changes at different transition levels (Atkins et al., 2017).
There are six stages in this theory that can be used to understand how healthcare providers, patients, family members, friends and other stakeholders in a healthcare setting would react to the implementation of EBP. The list below demonstrates how to change curve theory can help to enhance the implementation of EBP through the six stages of the change that are likely to occur:
Stage 1: This level of the change curve theory focuses on the early reaction of individuals, and it can help to identify the impact of introducing EBP in a healthcare setting as well as the possible challenges of the new situation. Specifically, this stage helps to understand how the implementation of EBP influences the normal social life in a healthcare setting, for example, communication or social interaction between healthcare providers and their patients.
Stage 2: This stage focuses on self-criticism in the process of adopting a new change, and therefore it can help to identify uncertainty while implementing EBP in healthcare. These two stages have identified the barriers that would make implementation processes to be unsuccessful.
Stage 3: This stage will help to test how healthcare providers are willing to adopt the EBP in consideration of having doubt about the impact and efficiency of the EBP in healthcare services.
Stage 4: Through this stage, it becomes easy to understand the acceptance level of different individuals and factors that may influence the perception about the benefits of adopting the EBP in healthcare. Using the change curve theory, it becomes clearer about certain issues that can change positive perception to negative perception about EBP.
Stage 5: having identified barriers that make it difficult to introduce and develop a positive picture about EBP this stage of change curve theory foster for developing solutions and adjustment that foster for improved acceptance and embracing of the evidence-based practices. The new solution added to the EBP can help to create flexible working environments that support the application of EBP.
Stage 6: This stage promotes the development of a learning environment, which can be very effective while implementing EBP in healthcare. First introduction learning help to develop awareness about EBP hence this fosters for more acceptance and understanding that helps to improve and manage the implementation process.
Reference
Atkins, L., Francis, J., Islam, R., O’Connor, D., Patey, A., Ivers, N., … & Lawton, R. (2017). A guide to using the Theoretical Domains Framework of behaviour change to investigate implementation problems. Implementation Science, 12(1), 77.
Zhao, J., Duan, S., Liu, X., Han, L., & Jiang, Y. (2016). Discussion on Clinical Application of Iowa Model in TCM Nursing Care. J Altern Complement Integr Med, 2(011).