4 The Practice Question 65
problems. Team members’ responsibilities are to attend meetings, review and
present evidence, participate in evidence synthesis, generate practice recommen-
dations, and contribute to and support team decisions. Teams that have never
conducted an EBP project can benefit by recruiting an experienced mentor to
help them complete the process the first time.
After the team is assembled and ready to begin the PET process, members select a
team leader. This leader should be someone who can facilitate meetings, manage
projects, articulate the team’s recommendations, and influence implementation.
The leader engages team members to establish a regular meeting schedule so that
members can adjust their schedules ahead of time. Selecting a time and venue
away from the demands of the clinical area and within a timeline realistic enough
to complete the project is essential. Team members who work multiple shifts, on
various days, and in different roles often require as much as two months’ notice.
Occasionally, teams with regularly scheduled meetings established for quality im-
provement, policy and procedure review, or other professional responsibilities use
a portion of this standard meeting time for the EBP project.
Some teams schedule a preliminary meeting to refine the practice problem and
question and then one or two 8-hour days to review evidence and make recom-
mendations. Others have approached scheduling challenges by setting aside
4-hour blocks of time monthly or five 2-hour meetings every other week. Sched-
uling meetings weekly or every two weeks keeps the team moving forward. De-
lays between group meetings diminish the team’s momentum.
Defining Practice Problems
Interprofessional team members begin their task by defining the practice prob-
lem. Defining the problem precisely and succinctly is important because all sub-
sequent actions and decisions build on the clarity and accuracy of the problem
statement. The process often begins by seeking answers to practice concerns
such as:
■■ Is there evidence that this intervention works?
■■ How does this practice help the patient?
