Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue: Evidence-Based Practice
Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue
Evidence-Based Practice
Numerous studies have been carried out in the healthcare sector to identify the issues affecting the delivery of healthcare services. Various evidence-based practices are recommended after every study project, and most of these recommendations remain on paper and are never implemented (Crabtree, Brennan, Davis & Coyle, 2016). Failure to adopt the recommended best practices results in a stalled developmental process in the healthcare sector. The old practices which yielded low-quality outcomes continue to be carried out, and the benefits of evidence-based practices are not exploited. In areas where evidence-based practice has been adopted, various life-changing benefits have been realized. Decisions founded on research evidence translate to safer and higher quality systems (Kim, Stichler, Ecoff, Brown, Gallo& Davidson, 2016). The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is an organization committed to the management, prevention, and control of diabetes across the population. The organization helps people living with diabetes to live positively and to manage their conditions and live life to the full. It also helps healthy individuals to avoid the risk of becoming diabetic, by advocating for and educating communities on healthy lifestyles that help alleviate the risk of diabetes and other associated illnesses (American Diabetes Association, n.d).
The ADA has a well-established research division committed to supporting research and translating findings to policy for better health outcomes. The organization’s research division upholds all innovations and discoveries whose adoption may result in better health outcomes for persons living with diabetes, including control and possible cures. As a result, ADA funds researchers who are committed to diabetes research, and throughout the years, various researchers have published useful findings which have been translated to policy and incorporated into practice (American Diabetes Association, n.d). ADA’s investment in research has attracted more research funding from various donors. This may indicate that previous diabetes research findings have borne commendable results, thus acting as an incentive for donors and researchers. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is found in different areas across the ADA website. Areas such as diabetes risk, nutrition, advocacy, fitness, and resources, among others, are some of the areas in which EBP is evidently in use.
ADA comprises of various functional divisions. Each of these functionalities plays specific roles in the control and management of diabetes. EBP is employed in the accomplishment of the various roles to ensure the best outcomes for the patient population (Crabtree, Brennan, Davis & Coyle, 2016). For instance, the control and management of diabetes is largely pegged on lifestyle, including diet and activity level. This has been established and confirmed through empirical evidence, and the organization bases its advocacy and education programs on such data. The effect of lifestyle on the quality of life for persons living with diabetes cannot be undermined. Research evidence has reported a positive correlation between increased physical activity and an increase in the quality of life for persons living with diabetes.
ADA is a credible organization and has positively contributed to the well-being of diabetic patients and the larger communities through education, advocacy, research, and support. However, after reviewing the ADA website and establishing the level of emphasis allocated to research, it is clear that EBP forms a strong basis for ADA policies and best practices. Initially, I perceived ADA as one of the organizations whose impact is clearly being felt across the community it serves. After understanding the role of research evidence in informing policy and practice, I feel that ADA is not only delivering but is also reliable. EBP forms the best foundation for winning healthcare systems since solutions are tailored as per proven feasibility using a result-oriented approach.
References
American Diabetes Association. (n.d).Retrieved from diabetes.org
Crabtree, E., Brennan, E., Davis, A. & Coyle, A. (2016).Improving patient care through nursing engagement in evidence-based practice. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 13(2), 172–175.
Kim, S.C., Stichler, J.F., Ecoff, L., Brown, C.E., Gallo, A. & Davidson, J.E. (2016). Predictors of evidence-based practice implementation, job satisfaction, and group cohesion among regional fellowship program participants. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 13(5), 340–348.