Why is Knowledge of Research Concepts Important for Evidence-Based Practice?
Evidence-based practice is predicated on
nursing research concepts. In EBP, we are trying to choose the best evidence, integrated with our clinical expertise and patient preferences, to provide the best care for our patients that we can. But you have to be able to critique research studies to see if the evidence is worthy of applying to your patient situations.
Understanding the research process gives
the professional nurse a foundation for the thought and effort that goes into designing a research study. Research questions don't come out of thin air - they are derived from a variety of triggers, including clinical practice observations. Why the research question is important, who is sampled, where the research is conducted, and how the research is conducted (research instruments used, data collected/entered/analyzed) are critical pieces to evaluate to determine the overall quality
of a study. You learn these concepts in a nursing research course.
Learning how to evaluate the components of the research process for both qualitative and quantitative research enables the nurse to judge the quality of a study and, therefore, determine whether to use the study's results in clinical practice. In my opinion, if you are an undergraduate nursing student you should
NOT be learning how to conduct research, but rather how to critically appraise research and use the findings in practice.
The bottom line is that the professional nurse needs knowledge of how to critically appraise (AKA critique) the evidence to
identify potential biases that could influence the research results. This learning takes place initially in a nursing research class and is refined in an evidence-based practice class.
Remember that the stronger the research methods (i.e., decreased potential for bias), the more confidence you can have in the results. Once you
determine the study is valid, you can see if you can apply the study results to your patient population.
