Discussion: Translating Evidence into Practice to Improve Safety and Quality and Eliminate Barriers
Discussion: Translating Evidence into Practice to Improve Safety and Quality and Eliminate Barriers
DQ 1
Identify either a safety or quality improvement initiative related to improving population health. Explain how translational research can influence the development of the initiative. Include a specific example to support your response. (1 reference needed)
DQ2
Identify a quality initiative from your workplace. What were some barriers to implementation? What are common barriers for translating research into practice? (1 reference needed) Discussion: Translating Evidence into Practice to Improve Safety and Quality and Eliminate Barriers
Translating Evidence into Practice to Improve Safety and Quality and Eliminate Barriers Samples
Discussion 1
Quality improvement initiatives are strategies put in place to ensure that patients have access to safe and quality care, at a reduced cost thus reducing disease burden, hospital stay, and mortality. An example of such initiative is coming up with strategies to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
This initiative is guided by five major strategies including the aseptic technique of catheter insertion, providing catheters to patients in need only, effective staff training, regular catheter assessment, and use of antibiotics for prophylaxis and treatment of infected patients (Rozario, 2018).
All the mentioned activities aim at reducing CAUTIs and their related complications. This in turn leads to reduced diseases burden, hospital stay, and cost of care. Discussion: Translating Evidence into Practice to Improve Safety and Quality and Eliminate Barriers
Translational research is applicable in matters of reducing CAUTIs. First, through translational research, it is easier to choose antibiotics that are safe for treating patients based on the results from culture and sensitivity. This in turn helps in reducing the rate of antibiotic resistance when treating patients. Also, through translational research, one can identify early signs and symptoms of CAUTIs, therefore, initiating early treatment to reduce complications.
Secondly, training staff on aseptic techniques of catheter insertion and regular assessment of catheters are practical skills that are best achieved through translational research. Lastly, the results from translational research give a clear criterion about incidences when one qualifies to have a catheter, as well as guidelines on when to remove catheters. Knowing who needs and when to remove catheters is important in reducing CAUTIs.
References
Rozario, D. (2018). Reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections using a multimodal approach – the NSQIP experience of Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. Canadian Journal of Surgery, 61(4), E7–E9. https://doi.org/10.1503/cjs.017217
Discussion 2
Quality Initiative
The quality initiative in my workplace is based on optimizing sepsis care. It is possible to achieve optimized sepsis care through early identification, offering standardized treatment, and the use of evidence-based practice knowledge to offer the best care (Kim & Park, 2019). The initiative leads to reduced mortality, suffering, hospital stay, readmission, and cost of care all related to sepsis. Discussion: Translating Evidence into Practice to Improve Safety and Quality and Eliminate Barriers
Barriers of Implementation
Implementing change is always difficult as people tend to be reluctant to adopt the changes. Recognizing sepsis was challenging at first, a factor attributable to the fact that most cultures have negative perceptions about the condition, yet patients were getting affected. Additionally, the dysregulation and organ dysfunction in most patients made it hard to make a diagnosis. Also, screening of patients was not done at all levels of hospital care hence most patients were seen with advanced disease (Kim & Park, 2019).
Despite advanced knowledge and evidence relating to sepsis treatment, there are still concerns regarding the amount of fluids, type of antibiotic, and timing of treatment of patients with sepsis. These controversies made it difficult to optimize patient care. Finally, most staff members were reluctant to take the instructions regarding new changes, thus presenting implementation challenges. Discussion: Translating Evidence into Practice to Improve Safety and Quality and Eliminate Barriers
Barriers for Translating Research into Practice
Translating research into practice is one process that faces major barriers. These barriers can either be organizational-based or individual. Individual barriers, according to Curtis et al. (2017), include limited time, insufficient knowledge about complex terms used in the research, incompetency in reading and research evaluation, and limited knowledge about the research process.
Organizational barriers include lack of research resources, insufficient infrastructure, and nurses to implement change, inability to access research, and limited support from other colleagues to implement changes (Curtis et al., 2017 Discussion: Translating Evidence into Practice to Improve Safety and Quality and Eliminate Barriers).
Additionally, the process of research and approval into practice is long, a factor that delays implementation into practice. Finally, if research has limited evidence or has not been proven in the past, healthcare providers will be reluctant to adopt it as they are not sure of its implication to the human population. Discussion: Translating Evidence into Practice to Improve Safety and Quality and Eliminate Barriers
References
Curtis, K., Fry, M., Shaban, R. Z., & Considine, J. (2017). Translating research findings to clinical nursing practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(5–6), 862–872. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13586
Kim, H. I., & Park, S. (2019). Sepsis: Early recognition and optimized treatment. Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, 82(1), 6–14. https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2018.0041
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