Creating a Culture for EBP in Rural Healthcare Institutes with Limited Resources

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Primary Author:</td>
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Azizeh Sowan, PhD, RN</td>
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Co-Principal Investigators/Collaborators:</td>
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N/A</td>
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Organization:</td>
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University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio</td>
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Abstract</h2>
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Purpose</h3>
<p>To describe the process for creation of evidence-based practice (EBP) culture in seven rural Jordanian hospitals with limited resources for EBP. </p>
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Background</h3>
<p>A mountain of evidence exists to support evidence-based practice and the subsequent improvement in health-related outcomes. However, EBP is not equally deployed in healthcare institutes related to organizational cultures, awareness, human capacity building, and resources availability. There is a lack of research on approaches to successful integration of EBP in rural health institutes with limited resources. </p>
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Materials & Methods</h3>
<p>The Jordanian Nursing Council supported the project and monitored the results. Administrative support was obtained from key stakeholders from the participating hospitals. After assessment, the majority of hospitals lacked infrastructure supportive of EBP- access to online databases, computers with reliable speed and connectivity, experts in EBP, appropriate policies, clinicians with graduate degrees, and evidence-based practice models. For each hospital, an EBP team of clinicians was formally assigned. An academic-practice partnership was formed to partner at least one faculty from schools of nursing to each hospital team. An intensive workshop for the teams on EBP was delivered. The goals of the project were to increase EBP awareness among bedside nurses (using online courses and lectures); implementation of Journal clubs, and integration of CPGs. Frequent meetings, reporting, and sharing of experiences was required. </p>
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Results</h3>
<p>The project was completed within 18 months. EBP activities were successfully implemented in all hospitals, but with different degrees. Interview with individual bedside nurses revealed varying awareness about the project initiative at their institutes. Hospitals that formally integrated EBP into their professional development and incentives systems achieved the best outcomes in terms of promoting awareness, disseminating evidence, and implementation of evidence into the patient care. </p>
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Conclusion</h3>
<p>Creating a culture for EBP requires administrative support, staff awareness, and formal integration of EBP into the strategic plans and practice models, in addition to other resources. Academic-practice partnership is a key for successful adoption and implementation of EBP. </p>
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Bibliography</h3>
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<li>
Henderson E.M., & Fletcher M. (2014). Nursing culture: An enemy of evidence-based practice? A focus group exploration. J Child Health Care.</li>
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Sowan, A. (2008). Barriers to Evidence-Based Practice: Perceptions of Jordanian</li>
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Nurses. The Second International JNC Nursing Conference-"The Less Traveled Road: Search for New Realities", Amman, Jordan.</li>
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<p>© Improvement Science Research Network, 2012</p>
<p>The ISRN published this as received and with permission from the author(s).</p>