Question

Discuss the differences between research, research utilization, and evidence-based practice. You may want to link this to the historical evolution of research in nursing.

Answer 1

Evidence-based practice (EBP) and research utilization (RU) are interrelated concepts that pertain to the identification, utilization and application of knowledge from research sources to clinical practice. EBP has been defined as the integration of clinical expertise, patient values, and the best research evidence into the decision making process for patient care. Research utilization is a sub-set of EBP, which refers to that process by which specific research-based knowledge is implemented in practice. Research is an orderly way oF examining possible solutions to problems or answers to questions using a scientific and methodical approach (Polit & Beck, 2012, p. 3). In nursing,research is utilized to produce evidence that a specific way of practicing, educating, or administrating over other nurses ismore beneficial than another. When the results oF a study or agroup oF studies are adapted into a practical application that isunrelated to the original study, it is called research utilization(RU) (Polit & Beck, 2012, p. 26). RU is closely related toevidence based practice (EBP) in the sense that EBP is researchutilization that includes other influences or consideration sspecifc to the problem at hand