Activity: The Value of a Research Critique to Translate Evidence into Practice

Write a two-page paper to explain the process of evaluating the proposed practice change as part of the intervention.

Introduction

This assessment requires you to put all of your research together in the longest paper in the course, 5 pages, including theories and models, the target population, and evaluation tools for assessing the impact of the proposed intervention.

Concepts, theories, and models serve several key functions in health care improvement and help answer the “what, how, and why” for performance improvement. Quality Improvement (QI), concepts, theories, and models help translate research to practice.

Think about a theory or model that will facilitate the implementation of the project. For example, if you anticipate resistance from the stakeholders, or the population undergoing a change, consider aligning a change theory with the model for improvement. Or, if the project focuses on a process change, consider the LEAN model or Donabedian’s Structure, Process, Outcomes model.

Next, focus on identification of the population. Ask yourself, “Who is undergoing the practice change, and who will benefit from the practice change?” Think about how you may want to identify your population. What are the demographics of the population? For example, can they be described by age, generation, socio-cultural determinants, geographic area, gender, or ethnicity? If the population affected includes the staff or providers of care, how might you describe these participants? If the affected population is the patient(s), consider human subject risk when evaluating the literature pertaining to the intervention.

Finally, this assessment also includes how evidence-based instruments are used in health research to generate analyzable data. Sometimes, biometric instruments (such as MRI and laboratory testing), demographic surveys or questionnaires, and psychosocial instruments are used as screening tools to explore relationships between variables of interest. Not all improvement studies require the use of a tool or survey. If you decide to use a tool or survey for the safety initiative, make sure the tool is evidence-based and has been validated for reliability.

Introduction

In this course, we are focusing on a patient safety issue of your choice and working through the steps of the EBP process. In this assessment, identify a tool or tools that could be used to evaluate the intervention.

Scenario

As the Director of Clinical Operations and Nursing Excellence, it is your responsibility to ensure that the best practices and protocols are implanted throughout the medical center. To further your quest to address a specific patient safety issue, you need to investigate the best measurement tools that could be used to evaluate if the intervention was a success.

Instructions

Write a two-page paper to explain the method and process of evaluating the proposed practice change.

1. Follow guidelines from previous assessments to write an introduction paragraph to provide organization for the paper.
2. Write in the third person, adhering to conventions of academic tone. Reference Capella Writing Center: Tone and writing in third person.
3. Identify two instruments that could be used to assess and evaluate the proposed practice change.
   • Identify instruments appropriate for determining the effectiveness of a specific intervention.
     • Briefly describe the origin or originator of each instrument (including the inventor, creator, or company).
     • Explain the construct it measures, units or scales, type of measurement (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods).
   • If using a survey for either assessment or evaluation of the intervention, describe the scientific validity and reliability (alpha).
4. Identify the relevant studies from the literature where the instruments were used.
   • Include a description of the results of the studies.
5. Describe how the studies differed or if there are similarities to your project.
6. Explain the rationale for why the instrument was chosen and provide supporting evidence from the literature.
7. Follow guidelines from previous assessments to write a summary paragraph to provide a closing for the paper.

Additional Requirements

• Two-page paper, not including the reference page.
• Double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font.
• Minimum of four resources.
• Write in third person.
• Include introduction and summary paragraphs.
• Include a reference page in APA format.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 3:Assess the quality of the research methods reported in peer-reviewed health care literature.
  • Explain the origin of each instrument, the construct it measures, and the type of measurement, including validity and reliability if it is a survey.
  • Identify the literature where the instruments have been used including the results of the studies.
• Competency 5: Interpret the results and practical significance of health care data analyses in the evidence based practice process.
  • Identify two instruments that could be used to assess and evaluate the proposed practice change.
  • Explain the rationale for why the instrument was chosen and provide supporting evidence from the literature.
• Competency 6: Produce original written work, in compliance with the Capella Writing Standards, which is a creative synthesis of information from credible sources.
  • Introduce and summarize the paper in introduction and closing paragraphs to provide organization for the paper.
  • Write in the third person, adhering to conventions of academic tone