4 The Practice Question 77
Scope of Project, Stakeholders, and Designating
Responsibility
After the problem is stated and the question created, the team reassesses whether
other stakeholders should be involved and determines the EBP project lead, team
members, and responsibilities.
The team will start by identifying whether the problem is clinical, learning, or
operational and describing the current practice. Describing the current practice
helps in three ways:
- Clarifies specific processes that may be the source of the problem
- Establishes baseline data
- Indicates how much of a change will be required when recommendations
are made prior to translation
The selection of appropriate stakeholders is based on who is affected by the
problem or concern, where is it experienced, and when it occurs. Answering these
questions influences who needs to be added to the team, informed, or involved.
The EBP team leader will need to designate responsibility for the subsequent
steps in the EBP process. Action items may include inviting new members to the
team, reporting to internal committees, or providing information to organiza-
tional leaders about the EBP project.
Summary
This chapter introduces the multiple origins of practice problems appropriate for
an EBP approach. It is essential to begin this first stage of the EBP project sys-
tematically with an interprofessional team to define the problem and to generate
an EBP question using the PICO format. Team members will determine whether
other stakeholders should be included or informed and designate team members’
responsibility. The ultimate goal of the P in the PET process is a well-framed
question to guide the next phase of the EBP process, (Evidence) successfully and
efficiently.
