Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses

In the scurvy example, identify communication channels and social system barriers to the

adoption of citrus fruits as a treatment for scurvy. Now, consider how the model of diffusion

of innovations could have been applied to this situation. How could the physicians have

overcome the barriers you identified and convinced others to become early adopters so that

citrus became accepted practice for the treatment of scurvy?

CRITICAL THINKING EXERCISE 1-3

1. Which of the following is not a component of the definition of EBP?
   a. Clinical expertise
   b. Nursing research
   c. Organizational culture
   d. Patient preferences


2. To promote EBP, which of the following strategies must be addressed? (Select all that
   apply.)
   a. Lack of commitment to EBP
   b. Lack of computer skills
   c. Lack of time
   d. Lack of value placed on research in practice

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 1-1

How did you do? 1. c; 2. a, b, c, d

1.2 What Is Nursing Research?

At the end of this section, you will be able to:

‹ Define research

‹ Discuss the contribution of research to EBP

‹ Categorize types of research

‹ Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative research approaches

‹ Describe the sections found in research articles

Research is a planned and systematic activity that leads to new knowledge

and/or the discovery of solutions to problems or questions (Polit & Beck,

2016). Simply stated, research means to search again. But the search must be

deliberate and organized as relevant questions are examined. It is essential that

established steps be followed.

14 CHAPTER 1 What Is Evidence-Based Practice?