The rise in demand for evidence-based practice in healthcare has led to an increase in the number of nursing inquiries done. However, the completion of an inquiry does not necessarily mean that it is practical in a clinical setting. Instead, it is vital to appraise the strength and rigor of the evidence presented before applying it to patients.
Appraising evidence provides the basis for informed decision-making in the healthcare sector. All research should be undertaken with a specific practice problem at the core. Assessing the eventual evidence provides scholars and nursing with an opportunity to gauge its effectiveness relative to its stated outcomes depending on a practice problem. Essentially, most research findings do not apply to general situations; instead, they are contextual. Thus, the appraisal process helps to ensure that the needs of a specific healthcare facility or sector match the recommendations and findings of a paper.
Additionally, not all the results of a research study are valid. Numerous factors affect the validity of a study. They include the methodology applied as well as the sample size. Therefore, while the stated objectives of a study may be relevant, a factor that harms its validity renders the eventual results null. Accordingly, the appraisal process is critical as it ensures that only outcomes of a valid study are applicable in a practical setting.
The need to contextualize evidence and guarantee high validity ensures that only the best quality of evidence is applied in a clinical setting (Kane et al., 2016). Consequently, this step helps to reduce instances of medication errors, a factor that raises the quality of patient care, and their safety. Conclusively, appraising the strength of evidence has a direct impact on patient outcomes.
Reference
Kane, R. L., Butler, M., & Ng, W. (2016). Examining the quality of evidence to support the effectiveness of interventions: an analysis of systematic reviews. BMJ Open, 6(5), e011051. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011051