Reason and goal for the selection of the activity
There is growing emphasis on the imperativeness of evidence-based practice in medical and clinical healthcare. The clinical practice continues to face enormous challenges that need healthcare professionals to solicit, and implement evidence-based practice in their profession. Whereas increased attention to undertaking clinical practice provides a framework for the current healthcare service provision, many professionals continue to face challenges of accessing relevant sites and informational sources that can improve their knowledge and skills (Health Sciences Library, 2012).
Therefore, this exercise suggests that existing and incoming health professionals should be prepared to deliver services to patients based on the ongoing provisions of evidence-based practice shaping the sector. The intent and purpose of this project are to identify websites that have information about evidence-based medical practice to help new entrants to understand the concept.
Description of the activity
This activity involved searching Webs that have devoted a lot to the concept of evidence-based practice. As an exercise meant to enrich my knowledge and create a mental shift, I sought to apply my search knowledge to obtain relevant statistics on three websites. Among terms used in the search to find the websites included evidence, practice, clinical, and professional. The Websites visited included, Health Sciences Library of Washington University and KT Clearing House. The contents of the websites have been summarized in the reflections of this paper.
Lessons learned from the exercise
This activity involved searching Webs that have devoted a lot to the concept of evidence-based practice. As an exercise meant to enrich my knowledge and create a mental shift, I sought to apply my search knowledge to obtain relevant statistics on three websites. During this exercise, information search used many terms, including evidence, practice, clinical, and professional. The Websites visited included, Health Sciences Library of Washington University and “KT Clearing House.” The reflections on the information obtained provide summaries of the contents in the following discussions.
In this exercise, taking a retrospective look at all the processes that I have undergone to examine the concept of evidence-based practice remains the greatest learning experience and a milestone in my professional experience and practice. I have come to recognize that although I have gained a wide range of knowledge in the field of medicine, my knowledge base has been suffering from a lack of the scientific basis for clinical practice (Health Sciences Library, 2012).
Whereas I have accumulated much knowledge over the past few years, I could not confidently provide myself and my fellow colleagues with the needed knowledge that can stand the test of evidence-based practice in clinical practice. However, knowing what I have gathered now, I will adopt a number of fundamental things that serve to change my perceptions and attitudes about the concept of evidence-based practice.
The first item on my learning curve is that I as a professional in a field full of practice, I would question traditional medical practice by questioning the availability and feasibility of evidence for its practice (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2011). The other critical item would be to investigate in clinical practices by measuring the practice against the current evidence in clinical healthcare for quality service delivery (KT Clearing Houses, 2012).
The greatest challenge facing the field is arguably lack of uniformity and consistency in practice using evidence-based practice (Health Sciences Library, 2012). Therefore, a sound campaign should strengthen the modern evidence-based practice. Thus, I would demonstrate the principles of evidence-based practice at an individual level as well as advocating for evidence-based practice by advancing its principles with my professional colleagues.
How this experience changed my attitude about EBP
There are numerous myths that conjoin to derail the essence of evidence-based practice in the modern clinical practice. Although most institutions and professionals have shown a critical approach to the adoption of EBPS, the field still faces enormous challenges. I have been able to gather enough knowledge about the difference between reflective practice and modern evidence-based practice.
The knowledge search shows that whereas reflective practice utilizes more introspective analysis, evidence-based practice that utilizes research evidence together with elements such as patient preferences, clinical expertise in deriving evidence-based decisions to spur outcomes (KT Clearing Houses, 2012).
Evidence-based practice deals with enlisting what took place, defining causes of the event, questioning the appropriateness of the actions taken. However, this process transcends this position to question the probable effects of action to future practice. When clinicians and other healthcare professionals undertake a comparison of the outcomes of their practice, it enables them not only appreciate the lack of professional expertise, but also to adopt the tenets of evidence-based practice to derive a conclusive answer.
I have also learned that appraising strengths and weaknesses a clinical evidence or research, a professional can establish whether the approach had a testable empirical evidence of appropriate practice or treatment.
How I felt about this experience
Reflecting on this research, I feel that while evidence-based research and practice promises a successful expertise, it is necessary to fuse its core values with the principles of reflective practice in different aspects of patient care and clinical practice. Evidence-based practice has continuously gained progress as a feasible healthcare framework among medical and clinical professionals.
Where practitioners create a warm linkage between empirical practice and clinical outcomes, they are likely to come up with sustainable expert solutions for challenges in patient care. However, inhibitors such as limited time, inaccessibility to knowledge, and others impede healthcare practitioners from implementing the practice.
There is a widely held myth about the unsystematic process of evidence-based practice. Personally I have been a victim of this unwavering falsehood. However, this research process has enabled me to develop a new form of perception and renewed thinking about the processes of EBP. For instance, the process has indicated to me that EBP is a systematic and deliberate process that has clearly defined steps (KT Clearing Houses, 2012).
Thus, EBP is summarized under five critical steps, including definition of case at hand, consulting relevant and best evidence, conducting a critical appraisal of the effectiveness and evidence, and finally conducting an objective evaluation of the entire process effectiveness.
Future Recommendations
This exercise has enabled me to undergo a radical change of mind and renewal of perception about the modern evidence-based practice. Given that medical and clinical students, as well as practicing professionals, have challenges of comprehending the principles of evidence-based practice.
This exercise can be beneficial to them in helping them improve healthcare and patient care while expanding their professional expertise (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2011). Therefore, findings from the exercise and my reflections about the topic of evidence-based practice allow me to recommend the exercise for future undertakings by students in the field of clinical healthcare.
Time allocated for the process
Although it may seem a simple and quick-to-conduct process, it has proven that it requires relatively longer time. For purposes of finding, reading and understanding the contents of evidence-based practice, I apportioned this exercise approximately five days. However, in spite the abundant sources, it was challenging to access testable and reliable websites dealing with the concept.
References
Health Sciences Library. (2012). Evidence-Based Practice. Web.
KT Clearing Houses. (2012). Evidence-Based Medicine. Web.
LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2011). Nursing Research: Methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice. St Louis: Mosby Elsevier.