course material

1. Evidence-Based Decisions in Healthcare
Evidence-Based Decisions in HealthcareEvidence-Based Decisions in
HealthcarePermalink: https:// /evidence-based-d…ns-in-healthcare/Evidence-Based
Decisions in Healthcare Hand in Date:Student’s No:Name:Tutor: During the previous
decade, a significant shift has been observed in the way health care workers use evidence
gathered from scientific research in clinical practice. Globally, evidence-based health care
concept has recently been incorporated in the language of health services’ researchers,
policymakers, managers and clinicians. The idea of evidence-based health care has been
incorporated in to the health care system. However, its uptake is uneven in the clinical
practice. The adoption and diffusion of evidence-based health care ideas in the 1990s prove
their relevance and power to the existing challenges and problems in the health care
systems in several nations. It is worth noting that the concept is also used in fields such as
education, criminal justice and social care.Cochrane evaluates the impacts of health care
treatments in offering significant information, and the risks and benefits of the
interventions (Gotham, 2006, 606).Individual patients can be guided by Cochrane Reviews
in making decisions that are well-informed concerning their health care. Patients differ in
their preferences, circumstances and values, and therefore, varying treatment choices are
made and are all founded on similar evidence. This paper aims at exploring the methods of
enquiry used to make evidence-based decisions in health care, and their application to
clinical practice.Methods of inquiry/methodologiesClinical experiences are reported by
experts as extremely low quality evidence, similar to observational studies and case reports.
According to Larrabee (2003, 12) vast randomized controlled trials that are well-conducted
offer high quality evidence, especially if used for informing systematic reviews.Systematic
reviews are founded on clinical studies with a careful participant selection. Consequently,
more complicated combinations of social aspects and clinical problems are ignored. The
Cochrane Collaboration aims at ensuring qualitative studies can inform and aID to
knowledge received from randomized controlled studies. Outcomes are measured using
numerical terms and therefore termed quantitative studies. Lifestyle changes and quality of
life are some of the qualitative measures, and are obtained using detailed questionnaires. In
aIDition, narrative interviews can be used, where respondents talk of their experiences.
Semi-structured prompts and questions explore the information and issues needed for a
study.GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) is a
system used to develop recommendations from evidence (clinical trials). The term health
technology can be applied in numerous health care systems such as a procedure, drug, piece

2. of equipment or device, or a diagnostic test.Pearson, Field and Jordan(2007)argue that
health technology assessment focuses on the extensive health system; if the health care
system can afford the demonstrated effectiveness of the interventions in changing health
impacts. In aIDition, the intervention should be required and the health system able to
finance the service.Health care users require the tools for assessing arguments against and
for decisions concerning their health care. The necessity for better or new treatment is best
known by the sick and their caregivers. Therefore, their views need to be included in
decisions about health care.Application to clinical practiceGuidelines are formulated to
provide patients and practitioners with information concerning the most suitable
interventions and treatments in clinical situations. This is based on research studies as
much as possible. Clinical guidelines focus on defining clinical pathways, and are significant
in ensuring the right and timely treatment for various patients (Rosswurm and Larrabee,
1999, 319).Systematic reviews are significant evidence sources for informing clinical
practice guidelines. Since clinical trials are unavailable to answer questions that emerge
during clinical practice guidelines’ development, the guidelines and recommendations may
not be founded on strong evidence always. ReferencesGotham, H. J. (2006) Advancing the
Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices into Clinical Practice: How Do We Get There
From Here? Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.Vol. 37, iss. 6), 606-
608. Larrabee, J.H. (2003) Advancing Quality Improvement through Using the Best Evidence
to Change Practice. Journal of Nursing Care Quality. Vol.19, iss. 12, 10-13. Pearson, A., Field,
J., and Jordan, Z. (2007)Evidence-Based Clinical Practice in Nursing and Health Care:
Assimilating Research, Experience and Expertise. Blackwell Publishing. Rosswurm, M. A.
and Larrabee, J. H. (1999) A model for Change to Evidence-Based Practice. The Journal of
Nursing Scholarship. Vol. 31, iss. 4, 317-322.