Application Of Evidence-based Practice Research Articles

Enhancing evidence-based practice into healthcare: Exploring the role of scientific skills in occupational therapists-

Background Research utilization and evidence-based practice (EBP) in occupational therapy rely on essential scientific skills. Despite prior research exploring factors influencing EBP, a gap remains in understanding the specific scientific competencies crucial for effective EBP application. Objectives To (1) describe the level of scientific skills for EBP and research application, and (2) investigate the factors influencing higher scientific competence among 1159 Spanish-speaking occupational therapists. Material and Methods We assessed the scientific skills using the HACTO-Screen online survey. Recruitment was conducted through a non-probability convenience sampling method between April to June 2020, using social networks and email dissemination to education and professional organizations in Spain and Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. Results Out of a total score of 115 points, participants showed a moderate level of scientific skills (mean: 62.7, SD: 21.6), with literature searching skills ranking the highest and scientific writing skills ranking the lowest. Associations were found between greater scientific competence and advanced degrees, ongoing research training, and on-the-job research. Conclusions Continuous research training, higher academic degrees, and active research engagement are essential for enhancing scientific competence among occupational therapists. Significance Targeted training to enhance scientific skills and promote research utilization are crucial in advancing EBP in occupational therapy.

Practice development in social work: differences between social workers with a bachelor's and master’s degree

ABSTRACT A process of academisation in social work is going on in Europe, as illustrated by the establishment of master’s programmes in social work (MSW programmes) at Dutch universities of applied sciences. These programmes prepare social workers for systematically improving their practice. The goal of this study is to examine the differences between bachelor’s- and MSW-educated social workers in the extent to which they engage in social practice development (SPD) activities, including linking, cooperation, evidence-based practice (EBP) and reflexivity, in daily practice. Data were collected from a survey among professionals with a MSW degree (N = 54), bachelor SW degree (N = 89) and MSW students (N = 43). The results show that social workers engage in SPD activities, however to a modest extent. MSW-educated social workers engage in significantly more EBP and Reflexivity than professionals with a bachelor's degree. After controlling for working experience and main task, education levels alone appear to have a significant effect on the application of EBP. To stimulate SPD and practice improvement, further development of MSW programmes is needed, the influx of social workers in MSW programmes must increase substantially and employers should facilitate social workers to engage in SPD by task or function differentiation.

Nurses' experiences and perspectives regarding evidence-based practice implementation in healthcare context: A qualitative study.

To explore nurses' experiences and perspectives about evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation in the healthcare context. A qualitative descriptive study design using focus group discussions (FGDs). Sixty-four nurses who purposefully selected and worked at various healthcare organizations in Bisha Governorate, Saudi Arabia, were included. Eight FGDs were used to obtain data using open-ended questions. The collected data underwent inductive qualitative content analysis. Two main categories were extracted: experiences and perspectives towards EBP. The experiences category emerged into four sub-categories: familiarity with concepts and benefits, steps, dissemination sources of EBP and sources of EBP knowledge, while perspectives towards the EBP category included four sub-categories: application of EBP in clinical practice, barriers, facilitators and EBP application methods. The participants experienced being in a non-supportive and non-encouraging atmosphere which results from a lack of organizational commitment to EBP implementation and illuminates the complexities involved in the integration process. The nurses' experience with EBP indicated that there was limited support for the implementation of this approach. Furthermore, they experienced varying barriers to EBP implementation. They viewed EBP as a complex technique as they lacked knowledge and skills related to the formulation of research questions, and retrieving, applying and disseminating of EBP in clinical practice decision-making. That is due to barriers pertinent to the individual, organizational and patient factors. The key to successfully implementing an EBP in nursing practice is to promote professional development, comprehensive and continuous training, a culture of change, organizational support and motivation. Through the construction and provision of ongoing educational interventions and mentoring programmes about EBP, healthcare organizations and nursing leadership may develop a comprehensive strategy to encourage staff nurses' participation in the EBP process. This is to enhance nurses' experiences and perspectives towards the EBP approach and overcome the barriers to effective implementation. Patients or the general public were not involved in the design, analysis or interpretation of the data in this study.

Factors influencing evidence-based practice among undergraduate nursing students: A cross-sectional analysis

ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe the current situation of evidence-based practice (EBP) among undergraduate nursing students in Thailand. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted. A convenience sample of 470 third- and fourth-year undergraduate nursing students from five public universities across Thailand participated in this study from January 2021 to March 2021. All participants were invited to complete a general information questionnaire, and the Student Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (S-EBPQ). ResultsThe overall mean S-EBPQ score was 5.29 ± 0.71, and the four subscales, from highest to lowest, were attitudes (5.50 ± 0.93), sharing and applying EBP (5.37 ± 0.87), practice (5.18 ± 0.84), and retrieving and reviewing evidence (5.10 ± 0.81). The current situation of S-EBPQ was higher among nursing students who had higher previous EBP studies, familiarity with research methods, confidence in clinical decision-making, preparedness in practice, and access to journals (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThis study’s findings provide valuable insights for planning strategies that can be integrated into the existing nursing curricula to enhance nursing undergraduates’ EBP application in clinical settings.

Effective Strategies for Teaching Evidence-Based Practice in Undergraduate Nursing Programs.

Literature shows that nursing program graduates cannot apply skills related to evidence-based practice (EBP) on graduation. However, the influence of EBP on quality and safety in nursing is well documented and shows that innovative strategies for teaching the content need to be explored. Teaching EBP in nursing programs is challenging due to students' attitudes and lack of engagement. These challenges are compounded when the program is accelerated or an undergraduate completion program. A literature search was conducted to identify best practices for improving the quality of EBP courses. The findings, along with the application of EBP 7 steps, were identified and implemented in the course redesign. A structured and sequential approach to learning core skills related to EBP may be an effective method of improving course quality and application of EBP skills upon graduation.

Evidence-based intrapartum care practice and associated factors among obstetric care providers working in hospitals of the four Wollega Zones, Oromia, Ethiopia.

Even though Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a key component of quality of Intrapartum care and links to improved health care outcomes, consistent application of EBP in patient care remains a challenge for health care providers. In the study area, there are no previous studies conducted on evidence-based Intrapartum care practice among obstetric care providers. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the magnitude of evidence based intra-partum care practice and its associated factors among obstetric care providers working in hospitals of Wollega zones, Oromia Region, West Ethiopia, 2022. An institution-based cross-sectional study using quantitative method was conducted from January to April/2022 in 11 hospitals of the four Wollega zones. All obstetric care providers (278) who were practicing intrapartum care in the selected hospitals were included. The data was collected using structured self-administered questionnaire and observational checklist. Data was entered via Epi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 25 statistical software. To see the association between the independent variables and evidence based Intrapartum care practice, multivariable logistic regression analysis was done. The statistical significance of association was declared at p-value ≤ 0.05. Tables, figures and charts were also used in descriptive statistics. The overall magnitude of evidence-based Intrapartum care practice was found to be 63.7% [95% CI (59.7, 67.7)]. There was a statistically significant association between evidence-based Intrapartum care practice and having good knowledge about Intrapartum care practice [AOR = 2.95; 95% CI (1.52,5.73)], positive attitude towards Intrapartum care practice [AOR = 3.13; 95% CI (1.59,6.16)], availability of updated Intrapartum care guideline [AOR = 2.88; 95% CI (1.46,5.70)], number of obstetric care providers per a shift (≥5 care providers) [AOR = 2.31; 95% CI (1.01,5.29)], number of deliveries within a day (<10 deliveries) [AOR = 4.61; 95% CI (2.28,9.31)], educational level (MSc and above) [AOR = 5.75; 95% CI (2.23,14.84)] at p-value ≤ 0.05. Our study revealed that, magnitude of evidence-based Intrapartum care practice was found to be low according to the WHO recommendation. These findings indicate that additional attention and monitoring is required to implement current Intrapartum care practices with the WHO guidelines.

The Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Instrument (School Version): Development and Initial Psychometrics of a New Interdisciplinary Scale.

This article presents the psychometric properties of the evidence-based practice (EBP) instrument (School Version), a new interdisciplinary measure for understanding and measuring EBP use that can be understood and used across the three professions who provide the most mental health services in schools. The instrument was developed based on theory, review of the literature, expert review (N = 12), pilot study (N = 20), and national study (N = 303). While the measure may have applicability for other groups of mental health providers in other settings, this study focused on the perspectives of mental health providers in schools, specifically school psychologists, school counselors, and social workers. Initial psychometric examination resulted in a 13-item, one factor model and indicated preliminary evidence for strong validity and internal reliability. No significant difference in total score among groups of mental health professionals was found, suggesting similarities of comprehension and application of EBP regardless of professional discipline. This instrument is the only one of its kind and provides a helpful first step towards common language and common goals when conceptualizing what it means for mental health providers to use best practice. Implications for school professionals and future research are offered.

Evidence-Based Practices in Special Education: A Reflection on the Philosophy, Research and Teaching

Some researchers have taken evidence-based practices (EBPs) as the main solution for enhancing the learning outcomes of students with disabilities. The manner in which the application of EBPs assumes teaching strategies to be aligned with students&amp;rsquo; learning problems or disability situations betrays a mechanical approach to dealing with issues of students with disabilities. Post/positivism and scientific methods are underpinning threads supporting these developments. Yet, the complexity of teaching practice tends to be overlooked and scientific methods overextended. In this background, this article reviews the philosophy of science so that a more complete and historical understanding of science is represented, which is helpful in facilitating the discipline to draw attention to the limitations of current discussions about EBPs. Subsequently, we raise three ways to elucidate the research and teaching practices. First, ontological, epistemological and methodological diversities should be practiced to interrogate issues related to EBPs. Second, alternative methodologies should be encouraged to counter the environmental and systematic barriers compromising students&amp;rsquo; learning difficulties. Last, a problem-solving approach should be used to compete with a mechanistic approach in responding to students&amp;#39; learning difficulties.

Evidence-based practice and its associated factors among point-of-care nurses working at the teaching and specialized hospitals of Northwest Ethiopia: A concurrent study.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the application of the best scientific evidence for clinical decision-making in professional patient care. In Ethiopia, the majority of nursing care is based on experience, tradition, intuition, common sense, and untested hypotheses. Evidence-based clinical practice has the potential to increase the quality of healthcare services while also lowering costs and increasing clinical outcomes. An institutional-based concurrent study design method of quantitative and qualitative research was conducted from Feb. 30 to Apr. 20, 2020. Systematic random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the study participants for the quantitative and qualitative analyses, respectively. To collect quantitative data, a pretested, structured, and self-administered questionnaire was used, and to collect qualitative data, an in-depth interview guided by questions was used. EBP was found to be significantly associated with educational level (AOR = 2.15, CI (1.15-4.02)), administrative support for EBP (AOR = 1.89, CI (1.22-2.91)), attitude toward EBP (AOR = 1.80, CI (1.24-2.62)), and preference of available information sources (AOR: 2.32, CI (1.58-3.39). The four main themes that emerged from the conventional content data analysis were the advantages of EBP application, barriers to EBP implementation, enabling factors for EBP, and evidence sharing. According to the findings of this study, only a few nurses used EBP at a high level. The implementation of EBP was positively associated with educational level, attitude toward EBP, administrative support, and the availability of information resources, as confirmed by the qualitative study. There must be an intervention program to facilitate the implementation of evidence in nursing practice by stakeholders to improve and increase the efficacy of practicing EBP.

Awareness, Attitude, and Barriers on Evidence-Based Practice among Physical Therapists in Ilocos

Aim: To determine the awareness and attitude on evidence-based practice (EBP) among physical therapists in Ilocos and identify the barriers to implementation in clinical practice. Method: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design using a pilot-tested and validated questionnaire on awareness, attitude, and barriers in EBP and conducted a key informant interview (KII). A total of 48 practicing physical therapists (hospital = 21; clinic = 18; homecare = 9) in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur participated in the study considering ethical guidelines. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, and mean were used to analyze the collected data. Results: The majority of the respondents were recent graduates with less than five years of clinical experience. The respondents were moderately aware (𝑋̅ = 4.11) of the use of EBP and had a positive attitude (𝑋̅ = 4.34) on using it on a day-to-day basis. The top three barriers that hindered the use of EBP is lack of time (37.5%) due to heavy workload, inability to apply research findings to patients with unique characteristics and (20.8%) and lack of research skills, lack of understanding of statistical analysis and lack of interest (12.5%). Conclusion and Implications: There is an increasing awareness of EBP among physical therapists in Ilocos, which positively influenced clinical practice. Results of the study may further encourage the daily practical application of EBP among physical therapists in clinical practice.

The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Clinical Application of Evidence-Based Practice in Health Science Professionals.

(1) Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) informs daily clinical interventions with the purpose of seeking changes to traditional practice through scientific evidence that justifies the reasons for our actions. The objectives were to describe the barriers, beliefs, and attitudes in the application of EBP among university health professionals (not doctors) and to evaluate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic among them. (2) Methods: This prospective study is both descriptive and observational. The individuals under study were university health professionals (not doctors) from various autonomous regions within Spain, in both public and private spheres. Sociodemographic and labor-related variables linked to the research and its completion were studied. Likewise, the survey instrument Health Sciences Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire (HS-EBP) was administered to evaluate the barriers to, beliefs in, and attitudes towards evidence-based practice. (3) Results: A total of 716 responses were gathered, of which 387 were collected during the period of confinement, and 343 in the COVID-19 post-confinement period. Possible associations that might help respond to the objectives were explored through a correlational study between the sociodemographic variables and each sub-scale of the HS-EBP 30 questionnaire (n = 716). (4) Conclusions: Barriers to, beliefs in, and attitudes towards evidence-based practice are described. There is a leadership gap where line management provides insufficient motivation to follow work routines. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense stress among health professionals. The post-confinement group showed a significant change in the variables “beliefs and attitudes”, and likewise in the “evaluation” block, justified by the need to update knowledge and to apply evidence.

IS EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (EBP) A REALITY IN THE CLINICAL ROUTINE OF BRAZILIAN PHYSICAL THERAPISTS? A SURVEY STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND BEHAVIOR.

Introduction: Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) refers to the set of attitudes from which one can know and apply the best evidence, understand patients' preferences and use clinical experience to optimize care, as well as facilitate decision making by health teams. to prole physical therapy professionals as to their unde Objectives: rstanding and application of EBP in their clinical routines. Methods: this is a survey study involving 146 physiotherapists of both genders, from all Brazilian regions. The professionals were contacted exclusively by e-mail, through their respective regional professional councils, in order to receive the electronic questionnaires, prepared for this purpose using the Google Forms platform. The questionnaires were available for 90 days, after which they were no longer accepted. Results: 74.6% of the sample was female; there was almost unanimous agreement that EBP is necessary in clinical practice. Approximately 95% agreed that EBP can be applied even in high demand settings and 84.4% said they were able to insert the guidelines of practice guides into their clinical routines. However, it is noteworthy that 98.6% said they lacked the ability to search relevant scientic literature and the main reasons for not performing EBP were: lack of time, lack of ability to search relevant scientic literature and lack of ndings on a given patient population. the authors conclude that Brazilian physical therapists recognize the im Conclusion: portance of EBP as a guide for clinical decision making and that they use it in their professional routines, however, they need adequate orientation on efcient scientic searches in order to promote treatment excellence through reliable scientic materials.

An Exploration of Perceived Barriers to Evidence-Based Practice among Physiotherapy Students during Clinical Placement—A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) has become part of the standard curriculum for health care students and professionals. Teaching EBP skills should be emphasized in entry level physiotherapy education as physiotherapists are expected to practice in an evidence-based way. Identifying barriers to the application of EBP in clinical placement plays an important role in developing physiotherapy programs. The present study aimed to explore physiotherapy students’ perceived barriers toward the use of EBP during their clinical placements. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among third-year physiotherapy students at the Faculty of Health Sciences University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Participants were asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire that was developed by the researcher based on previously developed surveys. The analyses applied included descriptive statistics and calculation of frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations of the participating students’ scores. Results: Fifty final-year undergraduate students with a mean age of 23.7 (±4.3, range 23 - 27) years participated in the study. Majority of participants reported lack of formal training, poor ability to critically appraise research evidence, insufficient time, their clinical supervisors, or other therapists not using EBP when treating patients as barriers towards practicing EBP. Conclusions: Physiotherapy students face many challenges in terms of training, organizational, and personal barriers toward the use of EBP during clinical placement. Lack of formal training, lack of research skills, insufficient time and their clinical supervisors or other therapists not using EBP when treating patients, emerged as top barriers. This fact underlines the importance of teaching students EBP skills, which would enable them to use EBP when working with patients.

Engaging Students as EBP Ambassadors in a Rural Hospital

Purpose: A regional research consortium provided a forum to optimize resources and fill gaps in services for all stakeholders. Through the consortium, an academic practice partnership was formed with a state university’s nursing program to assist a rural, critical access hospital’s nursing staff gain evidence-based practice (EBP) knowledge and skills. The aim of this project was to create, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of student led workshops to educate and empower critical access hospital staff nurses with EBP knowledge and skills. Sample: A convenience sample of staff nurses who attended monthly staff meetings was used. Sixteen nurses completed the pre-test, and 19 nurses completed the post-test. Method: The EBP Implementation Scale and EBP Beliefs Scale was used in a pretest/posttest design to evaluate staff nurse beliefs about EBP and implementation of EBP in their nursing practice. Findings: The nurses reported increased knowledge and application of EBP. The students developed professional and leadership skills. Conclusions: A healthcare research consortium provided a forum that connected academia and practice and fostered sharing of expertise and resources. Partnerships between nursing programs and rural, critical access hospitals may be an option for optimizing resources. Keywords: critical access hospital, rural hospital, evidence-based practice, nursing students, academic-practice partnerships DOI: https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v21i2.687 Acknowledgments: Thank you to the staff and administration at Gibson General Hospital for their cooperation and support of this project. Thank you to these former students who demonstrated extraordinary leadership throughout this project: Amber Parsons, BSN, RN; Katie Halbig, BSN, RN; Rebecca Horn, BSN, RN; Jenna Spiller BSN, RN; Kim Bell, BSN, RN; Rachel Goldstein, BSN, RN; Lucy Hardison, BSN, RN; Anne Kiboi, BSN, RN; Anna Heckman, BSN, RN; Sarah Mehringer, BSN, RN; Allison Schroering, BSN, RN; and Grace Voyles, BSN, RN.

Identification of the Gap between Research and Practice in Surgical Care

Background: The process of applying Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in the clinic has been slow in various departments and disciplines. In particular, according to studies, EBP use in the operating room is much less common than in medical wards.Aim: We aimed to evaluate the use of evidence-based practice in surgical care and identify barriers to its use among operating room and anesthesia nurses.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study using online survey tools on 251 operating room and anesthesia nurses from Mazandaran teaching hospitals who responded to the survey request (response rate 78%) on January 2021.  EBP Implementation Scale (EBPI-Scale) and EBP BARRIERS Scale were used to assess the extent of evidence-based performance and barriers, respectively. Information on sociological and occupational characteristics of respondents was also collected.Results: The average use of evidence-based performance was 27.73 ± 8.73 (range: 0-72). The results showed that about 50% of participants had never used EBP in the past eight weeks. The EBP application showed an inverse relationship with age (p<0.01, r=-0.30) and work experience (p<0.01, r =-0.20). Education has a significant effect on the process of evidence-based performance (p<0.01). There was a positive correlation between EBP barrier scale and EBP utilization scale (P<0.01, r=0.34). The major barrier for the use of EBP were lack of authority to change patient care procedures.Implications for Practice: The results of this study can be used along with evidence-based information to plan the organization's strategy to increase the use of EBP into daily practice.

Factors Affecting the Implementation and Barriers to Evidence-Based Practice among Nurse Practitioners in Hail Region, Saudi Arabia

Background: While previous studies explored the implementation and barriers to evidence-based practice (EBP), there is a dearth of literature on the causative factors such as demographics that affect the implementation and barriers to EBP.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the implementation of EBP and determine its barriers as perceived by nurse practitioners.Methods: This study employed a quantitative correlational design. A total of 228 staff nurses from the hospitals in the Hail region, Saudi Arabia, participated in this study through purposive sampling. The evidence-based practice questionnaire (EBPQ) and the barriers scale questionnaire were used to collect the data between June and July 2020. The descriptive statistics, t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the collected data.Results: The nurses showed a positive attitude (x=15.25±5.07), good knowledge (x=63.44±19.81), as well as good application of EBP (x=28.02±6.68) with an outstanding EBP score of 106.73 out of 168. Nurses’ civil status (p&lt;0.02), nationality (p&lt;0.05), highest degree (p&lt;0.01), job title (p&lt;0.001), and years of experience (p&lt;0.001) significantly affected the implementation of EBP. Also, the biggest barriers to EBP were: “No time to read research” (94.3%), “Research is not readily available” (97.8%), “Not capable to evaluate the quality of research” (90.4 %), and “Uncertain whether to believe results” (68.4%).Conclusion: Nurses have a positive attitude, good knowledge, and good application of EBP. Civil status, nationality, highest degree, job title, and years of experience were causative factors to EBP. Nurses in hospitals should undergo training continuously to be able to use EBP effectively.

Evidence-based Practice (EBP): beliefs, knowledge and behavior of physiotherapists. A survey research.

An analytical observational study was conduct using a web-based questionnaire. Evidence-based practice is one of the most relevant concern of all health professions. This research has been done taking account of demographic information, attitudes and skills in reference to Evidence Based Practice (EBP) for application in the daily clinical practice. To describe beliefs and behaviors of physiotherapists from two Italian regions about EBP and its implementation in clinical practice, their knowledge in this field and the perception of its benefits and barrier in application in clinical practice. The participants completed a designed questionnaire, whose purpose was to determine beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding EBP, as well as demographic information about themselves and their practice settings. This survey was activated through the TSRM-PSTRP registers of Marche and Umbria regions that sent the questionnaire to all the registered physiotherapists. There was a response rate of 7.64% for Marche region, equal to a sample of 132 physiotherapists, and a response rate of 12.99% for Umbria region, equal to a sample of 110 physiotherapists, for a total sample of 242 physiotherapists. The questionnaire was filled out through an online Google platform called “Forms”. The responses were summarized for each item and the logistic regression analyses and the chi-square test were used to examine relationships among variables. The respondents agreed that the use of evidence in practice was necessary, that the literature was helpful in their practices and that the quality of patient care was better when evidence were used. For physiotherapists from Umbria, with more than 15 years of qualification, the following answers are statistically significant (p&lt;0.05): “the application of EBP is necessary in the practice of physical therapy, EBP helps me making decisions about patient care and I actively seek practice guidelines pertaining to areas of my practice and EBP improves the quality of patient care”. For physiotherapists from Marche, with more than 15 years of qualification, the following answers are statistically significant (p&lt;0.05): “EBP helps me making decisions about patient care, I actively seek practice guidelines pertaining to areas of my practice and I am confident in my ability to find relevant research to answer my clinical questions”. Training, familiarity with and confidence in search strategies, use of databases, and critical appraisal tended to be associated to younger therapists with fewer years of qualification. Physical therapists stated they have a positive attitude about EBP and they are interested in learning or improving the necessary skills to implement EBP. They noticed that they needed to increase the use of evidence in their daily practice.

Evidence-based Practice (EBP): beliefs, knowledge and behavior of physiotherapists. A survey research.

An analytical observational study was conduct using a web-based questionnaire. Evidence-based practice is one of the most relevant  concern of all health professions. This research has been done taking account of demographic information, attitudes and skills in  reference to Evidence Based Practice (EBP) for application in the daily clinical practice. To describe beliefs and behaviors of  physiotherapists from two Italian regions about EBP and its implementation in clinical practice, their knowledge in this field and the  perception of its benefits and barrier in application in clinical practice. The participants completed a designed questionnaire, whose  purpose was to determine beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding EBP, as well as demographic information about  themselves and their practice settings. This survey was activated through the TSRM-PSTRP registers of Marche and Umbria regions that sent the questionnaire to all the registered physiotherapists. There was a response rate of 7.64% for Marche region, equal to a  sample of 132 physiotherapists, and a response rate of 12.99% for Umbria region, equal to a sample of 110 physiotherapists, for a total  sample of 242 physiotherapists. The questionnaire was filled out through an online Google platform called “Forms”. The responses  were summarized for each item and the logistic regression analyses and the chi-square test were used to examine relationships  among variables. The respondents agreed that the use of evidence in practice was necessary, that the literature was helpful in their  practices and that the quality of patient care was better when evidence were used. For physiotherapists from Umbria, with more than  15 years of qualification, the following answers are statistically significant (p&lt;0.05): “the application of EBP is necessary in the practice  of physical therapy, EBP helps me making decisions about patient care and I actively seek practice guidelines pertaining to areas of my  practice and EBP improves the quality of patient care”. For physiotherapists from Marche, with more than 15 years of qualification, the  following answers are statistically significant (p&lt;0.05): “EBP helps me making decisions about patient care, I actively seek practice  guidelines pertaining to areas of my practice and I am confident in my ability to find relevant research to answer my clinical  questions”. Training, familiarity with and confidence in search strategies, use of databases, and critical appraisal tended to be  associated to younger therapists with fewer years of qualification. Physical therapists stated they have a positive attitude about EBP  and they are interested in learning or improving the necessary skills to implement EBP. They noticed that they needed to increase the  use of evidence in their daily practice. 

Professional Learning in Family Support Social Work in Sweden

The integration of evidence-based practice (EBP) in human service organizations has increased during the last decade. Providing the best possible treatment by applying research and considering the client’s specific needs, EBP is recommended for human service organizations. However, due to its oftentimes manual-based format, critics claim that EBP is a result of increased focus on cost-efficiency, control, and standardization of work. Different conceptualizations of EBP appear to prevail, highlighting the need for more studies that investigate different perspectives and experiences (e.g., that of professionals). In this study, focus group interviews were conducted with family support social workers (n = 19) in Sweden who are trained and active in the evidence-based model Family Check-Up (FCU). Participants reported that FCU promotes professional learning and development, especially experiential learning. Those interviewed felt that research/evidence provided a certain “weight” to the therapeutic situation, so that they were not merely treating patients based on their own opinions. Further, FCU was described as empowering and developmental, with an encouraging, reflective, and reinforcing client-related approach. However, to enable these kinds of positive outcomes of EBP, organizations must provide sufficient time and resources devoted to the practical application of EBP.  

Factors impeding the supply of over-the-counter medications according to evidence-based practice: A mixed-methods study.

ObjectiveDespite the positive attitudes pharmacists have toward evidence-based practices (EBPs), its application in community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and assess EBPs by community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia when they dispense over-the-counter (OTC) medications for three minor ailments: diarrhea, cough, and the common cold.Research design and methodsWe used a mixed-methods approach consisting of two study parts. The first was a quantitative investigation that used mystery shoppers. Four researchers, posing as mystery shoppers, visited 214 randomly selected pharmacies in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. They used 14 questions from a standardized checklist to examine EBPs by community pharmacists. The qualitative part of the study entailed three focus-group discussions with 13 pharmacists from different community practice settings and explored factors that affected the application of EBPs when supplying OTC medications from the pharmacists’ point of view.ResultsThe analysis indicated that 40% of pharmacists dispensed OTC medications according to EBPs. Logistic regression analysis showed that one question, "Describe your symptoms", predicted the correct supply of OTC medications (p = 0.021). The qualitative section of the study identified nine factors that affected EBP. Some of these factors facilitated EBP, such as established patient-pharmacist relationships, some acted as barriers such as conflicts between available evidence, while other factors could either facilitate or hinder EBPs, such as the health literacy of the patient.ConclusionGiven that dispensing OTC medication is a core function of pharmacists, this study uncovered low adherence to EBPs by community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia when dispensing OTC medication for three minor ailments: diarrhea, cough, and the common cold. Furthermore, this study identified a number of explanatory factors for this low adherence. Targeting these factors could help change the behavior of pharmacists and decrease undesirable outcomes.