Question

Evidence-informed care (300 words) In preparation for clinical practice, you are required to demonstrate an understanding of the four components of evidence-informed care.

1. Name the four components of evidence-informed care.

2. Define the four components named and provide an example why each one is important in nursing and/or clinical practice.

Answer 1

Evidence informed Care

Evidence informed Care is a care provided based on Evidence informed practice, which is used to formulate interventions and health promotion programmes using information that has evidence. Evidence refers to facts or observation presented in support of an assertion. Here health professionals are using evidence to understand the advantages and disadvantages of any selected intervention by systematic searching and analysis and this information, they use for taking clinical decisions by combining it with their experience and knowledge.  

1. Four components of Evidence informed care: Now a days more than the term ' Evidence based care' , professionals are using the term Evidence informed care . The components of Evidence informed care that is important for nursing or clinical practice.

* The best research evidence

*Professional clinical expertise

*Patient's preferences and actions

*Clinical  decision making

2. The best research evidence: is one of the main component of Evidence informed care. The best evidence means " The evidence has to show the relevancy, effectiveness and safety of clinical or nursing interventions.

Professional clinical expertise: It means the experiences and general skills of a nurse/ health professional. Professional health expertise is an another major component of Evidence informed care as it helps in the decision making process or the planning of intervention.

Patient's preference and actions: A healthcare professional should consider the preferences of patients/ groups/ communities and their actions or behaviours and values while taking a clinical decision.

Clinical decision making : The Decision making process has to happen based on external research evidence, clinical expertise and patient's preferences. Evidence informed care also involves the clinical decision making by the physician or nurses before giving the care.

Thus Evidence informed care involves the collection of research evidence , professional expertise , patient's preferences and decision making process.