Evidence Based Practice Issues

In medicine, evidence-based practice refers to the practice of integrating research with practical methods of administering health care. Some practical considerations limit the adoption of evidence-based practice in a medical setting. For instance, it is not always easy to convert research techniques to practical use in a medical setting.

Transforming Research into Practice

• Medical research uses clinical trials to test new techniques. However, the participants in these clinical trials are chosen from a population that may not be representative of the population on which practitioners will apply the research in the real world. The clinical trials are geared more to an ideal world situation and not always geared to practical issues. The research setting somtimes pays people they choose, based on specific criteria, to participate in such research.

Emphasis on Practical Considerations

• Considering that the aim of evidence-based practice is to incorporate good research techniques into medical practice, overemphasis on practical considerations could be self-defeating. Medical practitioners could overlook sound research techniques that may be financially difficult to implement. They could require additional staff training, or new material, for instance. Thus, the evidence-based practice issues that practitioners end up using could be the more practical ones, but not necessarily those of the highest scientific merit.

Adaptations in Use

• Another issue with evidence-based practice is that health care professionals have to administer a treatment in a consistent manner over time. This helps gauge effectiveness. If those who administer the techniques alter it to suit their convenience, there is no reliable gauge of effectiveness. One way of ensuring consistency is to get a third-party observer to watch the proceedings; however, this is an expensive solution. Health professionals could also use checklists to ensure that they are consistent, but this is not a very reliable method.

Commitment to Implementation

• The ultimate success of an evidence-based practice approach will depend on how committed a medical facility and its staff are to its implementation. The adoption of a new practice may call for staff training. It also involves supervision and monitoring of how the implementation is going. There is also a tendency to abandon a new practice when practical issues surface.