Evidence-based project (EBP) is a project that aims at finding evidence that would improve clinical practice (Kowalski, 2017). After the study the researcher would need to share the findings with members of the organization where it was undertaken and members of the public. Disseminating information is critical since it provides room for application. There are several goals for disseminating an EBP project findings; to encourage people to apply EBP findings, increase dissemination of information, and increase people’s capacity to apply information. Applying EBP findings is linked to better performance of nurses and improved patient outcomes. Disseminating evidence from an evidence-based project provides opportunity for nurses to advocate for application in clinical practice.
A strategy I am likely to use to disseminate my EBP findings is the electronic poster presentation. They are user friendly, easy to share throughout the organization and can be accessed via any device (Johnson et al., 2020). It is economical and utilizes the space quite well. It is an effective, cost effective, environmentally friendly means of dissemination, which can reach a larger audience.
Another strategy is to use contact persons comprising of dedicated and highly experienced staff. Advocating for application of EBP in clinical practice requires a strong team that can convince the organization with facts, evidence and assurance that applying it will better the lives of patients (Sween-Cadieux et al., 2017). The strategy would involve gathering the team, presenting the findings of the EBP findings to them, allow them to critique and make improvements where necessary. It would act as a steering committee who would develop an effective communication strategy to share the findings and its benefits. Having a team also shifts ownership of the EBP to the organizational members with greater convincing power. If the EBP aims to ring certain changes there will be less resistance to change since the team can communicate clearly before the change being initiated.
Using workshop to disseminate my evidence would be my least inclined method. In most cases there are no follow ups after workshops and the lessons are left at the venue. In a workshop one can only gather a few representatives meaning it can only reach a small audience (Sween-Cadieux et al., 2017). Sometimes people attend workshops to unwind after a busy year and because of the many presentations only a few EBP projects are implemented by the audience. Electronic posters are good since they can reach everyone at the comfort of their workplace who can pick what they consider practical and implement to improve their practice.
The most common challenge of disseminating evidence is cost. Electronic posters are cheap and after being generated they are only shared in online platforms so there is no additional cost. Another challenge of dissemination through electronic posters strategy is cost of implementation of the EBP project. Some EBP projects are expensive to implement in an organization since they require experienced personnel, financial and material resources. The best way to overcome the barrier is by having an effective communication strategy that helps in explaining the benefits of the EBP project in enhancing clinical practice, improving quality of care and patient outcomes. Resources will always be limited but organizations are willing to allocate resources to a project that would better its performance. It is also critical to lobby and seek support or partnership from the time of project conception so that everyone in the organization and its stakeholders feel involved.
References
Kowalski, M. O. (2017). Strategies to heighten EBP engagement. Nursing Management, 48(2), 13-15. https://journals.lww.com/nursingmanagement/fulltext/2017/02000/strategies_to_heighten_ebp_engagement.5.aspx?casa_token=gxqXXo0QoesAAAAA:q6Qxut4GxeVwsmuftyKJ_Nnui92L8WJtGjWuwmbfX568RhUzc99y7OCQvuNVh9WErLRMtM5_naF1dyqCpFfsiG2dAA
Johnson, T., Powers, S., & Tracy, M. F. (2020). Implementing an Electronic Poster Fair. Journal for nurses in professional development, 36(4), 191-198. https://journals.lww.com/jnsdonline/fulltext/2020/07000/implementing_an_electronic_poster_fair.3.aspx?casa_token=Zo0xcvObT6UAAAAA:88nadtiNkjuMZQF7fqF-5OYvAFz_SoI0DamnpyzInZPfIxiUbHIJ5ouRWf8RLbFwoIhP09RMSCCxdakOOYHTWMsoDQ
Sween-Cadieux, M., Dagenais, C., Somé, P. A., & Ridde, V. (2017). Research dissemination workshops: observations and implications based on an experience in Burkina Faso. Health Research Policy and Systems, 15(1), 1-12. https://health-policy-systems.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12961-017-0205-9
