Similarities and differences among evidence-based practice, research, and quality improvement

Funding sources

Evidence-based practice: - internal, from healthcare agency Research: - funding is usually external such as a grant Quality improvement: -internal, from healthcare agency

Is IRB approval needed?

Evidence-based practice: - sometimes Research: - yes Quality improvement: -sometimes

Is the activity part of regular clinical practice?

Evidence-based practice: - yes Research: - no Quality improvement: -yes

Focus

Evidence-based practice: -implementation of evidence already knowninto practice Research: -evidence is generated to find answers for questions that are not known about nursing practice Quality improvement: -measures effects of practice and/or practice change on specific patient population

Data sources

Evidence-based practice: -multiple research studies, expert opinion, personal experience, patients Research: -subjects or participants have predefined character six that include or exclude them from the study; researcher collects and analyze data from subjects Quality improvement: -Data from patient records or patients who are in specific areas such as on patient care unit or admitted to a particular hospital

Who conducts the activity?

Evidence-based practice: -practicing nurses and possibly other members of the healthcare team Research: -researchers who may or may not be employed by the healthcare agency and usually are not a part of the clinical healthcare team conduct it Quality improvement: -employees of a healthcare agency such as nurses, physicians, pharmacist

Purpose

Evidence-based practice: -use of information from research, professional experts, personal experience, and patient preferences to determine safe and and effective nursing care with the goal of improving patient care and outcomes Research: -systemic inquiry answers questions, solves problems, and contributes to the generalizable knowledge base of nursing; it may or may not improve patient care Quality improvement: -improves local work processes to improve patient outcomes and efficiency of health systems; results usually not generalizable