Paper
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
The Journey from Workshop to Work Practice
I. K. Ellis, RN, RM, MPH, TM1, Jeanette Robertson, RN, RM2, and Robin Watts, RN, PhD2. (1) Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health, Curtin University of Technology, Geraldton, Australia, (2) WA Centre for Evidence-Based Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
| Learning Objective #1: Identify how action research methodology has enabled evidence-based practice to be implemented in rural hospitals in Western Australia |
| Learning Objective #2: Recount diffusion of innovations theory |
Objective:With the work of organsiations such as the Cochrane Collaboration and the Joanna Briggs Institute the latest clinical research findings for health professionals is now readily available. The appropriate and effective transfer of research evidence into practice is still a major challenge. This research aimed to identify the enabling factors for implementation of evidence based practice for nurses in rural Australia. Design:Participatory action research (PAR) methodology was used to engage the relevant parties in recursive cycles of critical and self-critical reflection and action in 6 rural hospitals, with the aim of positively changing a current problematic nursing practice. Critical and self-critical reflection were used to examine the context that contributed to current practice. Adhering to principles of Evidence Based Practice this critical reflection suggested to practitioners that changes were required to current policies or procedures. Methods:Support for this process was provided in the form of workshops to assist nurses apply findings from syntheses of research studies on selected topics to local protocols for patient care. The workshop design is based on evidence related to behavioural change and effective dissemination of information. The five theoretical perspectives employed are those identified by George Rubin (1998) as being integral to promoting behavioural change - viz: diffusion of innovations, adult learning, social influences, marketing, anticipated behaviour change and management theory. Because each of the locations has its own contextual framework, they focused on their own perceived problematic nursing procedure, thus each site was treated as an independent research project or ‘sub-project’. Findings:This paper will describe the evolution of these workshops and the optimal conditions identified by the research for the transfer of evidence into practice in rural and remote hospitals in Western Australia.
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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 21, 2004