The evidence-based practice process begins when events trigger an awareness in health care professionals that information is needed to care for a particular patient or that a practice change is needed.
Knowledge-Based Triggers
Problem-Based Triggers
References
Titler, M. G., Kleiber, C., Steelman, V. J., Rakel, B. A., Budreau, G., Everett, C. L. Q., ... Goode, C. J. (2001). The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to promote quality care. Critical Care Nursing Clinics Of North America, 13(4), 497-509. (PMID: 11778337)
Once a question is triggered, use the PICO acronym to help formulate foreground or specific questions that will direct the rest of the EBP process:
Reminders:
References
Nollan, R., Fineout-Overholt, E., & Stephenson, P. (2005). Asking compelling clinical questions. In: B. M. Melnyk & E. Fineout Overholt (Eds.), Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: a guide to best practice (pp. 25-37). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (UH Manoa Hamilton RT42 .M44 2005)
Straus, S. E., Glasziou, P., Richardson, W. S., & Haynes, R. B. (2011). Asking answerable clinical questions. In: Evidence-based medicine: how to practice and teach it (4th ed., pp. 13-27). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. UH Manoa Hamilton Reference R723.7 .E954 2011)
Questions are generated by triggers that occur when encountering a problem that cannot be answered or when you realize that your knowledge base needs to address a practice issue. Triggers generally generate two types of questions.
Background or general questions ask for general knowledge about some aspect of a disorder. Example: What causes pressure ulcers? What are the complications of pressure ulcers?
Foreground or specific questions ask for specific knowledge about managing patients with a disorder. These questions can be further categorized into the following areas:
The resources below are unrestricted.
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