Exploratory research is a specific type of inquiry intended to define a phenomenon. It is used in cases when the problem at hand has not been studied sufficiently, lacks clarity, or is not supported by systematized operational definitions (De Chesnay, 2015). Exploratory research can be based on primary data, such as the opinions and perceptions of the involved stakeholders gathered via surveys and interviews. Alternatively, secondary data can be used for the research purposes, such as the information from the academic literature. Exploratory research is primarily used at the early stages of inquiry.
Qualitative research is a broad category that usually includes studies aiming at the in-depth inquiry into the decision-making process of groups of individuals. This type of research is often performed by evaluating the perceptions of the representatives of the studied group (Holloway & Galvin, 2016). It is usually exploratory and open-ended in nature and does not employ statistical analysis. The findings may be presented in a narrational form and are meant to provide insights rather than conclusively prove a point.
Quantitative research is aimed at establishing a statistical significance of a specific phenomenon. It requires the formulation of precise research hypotheses that are falsifiable and employs mathematically measurable variables (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2014). Quantitative research uses well-defined data with fixed response options and utilizes numerous statistical tools intended for ensuring the reliability of the results. Since it is used to conclusively confirm or disprove a hypothesis, it relies on much larger samples than qualitative research.
The high quality of evidence is a cornerstone of evidence-based practice. For this reason, the credibility of the source is crucial for determining whether the source can be safely incorporated into the planned intervention. The credibility of the source can be established by checking the compliance with academic standards (e.g., the article’s structure and the presence of peer review) and scientific standards (e.g., the use of appropriate sampling and analysis procedures).
One of the most prominent examples of change in the clinical setting as a result of EBP implementation was the introduction of a systematic multimodal intervention aimed at increasing compliance with hand hygiene practices in a local hospital. The intervention included the education of the nursing staff on the outcomes of the poor compliance, briefing on the decreased transmission of healthcare-associated infections and pathogens resulting from the change in order to increase motivation, and the change of equipment used for hand hygiene to alcohol-based solutions. The latter was based on the evidence from the academic literature suggesting that alcohol-based rubs are less time-consuming and have an overall positive effect on hand hygiene compliance (Smiddy, O’Connell, & Creedon, 2015).
In addition, workshops were introduced that allowed the nurses to share relevant observations on the effectiveness of the strategy and provide useful feedback that could be used to adjust the process and further improve the results, thus further enhancing the evidence-based nature of the change. The facts that the initiative was directly aimed at nursing personnel and incorporated the feedback and observations of the nursing practitioners point to the fact that it was within the scope of nursing practice. While there is currently no data available to evaluate the clinical significance of the change, the results of the survey administered as a part of the initiative revealed that the nurses had perceived it as successful. Nevertheless, I would introduce a minor change by addressing the issue of irritated skin as one of the negative side effects. In this way, we would be able to improve employee satisfaction and, by extension, commitment in the workplace.
References
De Chesnay, M. (Ed.) (2015). Nursing research using data analysis: Qualitative designs and methods in nursing. New York, NY: Springer.
Holloway, I., & Galvin, K. (2016). Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare (4th ed.). Ames, IA: John Wiley & Sons.
LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2014). Nursing research: Methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Smiddy, M. P., O’Connell, R., & Creedon, S. A. (2015). Systematic qualitative literature review of health care workers’ compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. American Journal of Infection Control, 43(3), 269-274.