Post at least two dissemination strategies you would be most inclined to use and explain why. Explain which dissemination strategies you would be least inclined to use and explain why. Identify at least two barriers you might encounter when using the dissemination strategies you are most inclined to use. Be specific and provide examples. Explain how you might overcome the barriers you identified.
EBP Dissemination Strategies
According to Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt, using research and (EBP) evidence-based practice is the only way to achieve best patient outcomes. There must be a culture of acceptance and readiness to learn about and utilize EBP for implementation to be successful (2018). There are several strategies that can be used to disseminate EBP, but also several barriers.
Most Likely to Use
At my organization, “huddles” are held at the start of the 7 am and 7 pm shifts. This is a wonderful time to quickly educate every staff member arriving for their shift. Huddles are also a research-based method to reduce distractions, as they are held away from patient care areas, and have shown to increase overall patient safety and communication among staff members (Kylor, Napier, Rephann, & Spence, 2016). Although this is only reaching a small group at a time, and there are time constraints, the most essential information is reserved for these huddles. This is mostly just an introduction to spread awareness that there will be new policies, procedures, etc. and education will occur later.
We also have several whiteboards and space for posters, flyers, and printed information to be displayed. Each staff member is responsible for reviewing the information displayed on the huddle boards at their leisure. There are sign-off sheets with education to sign your name once you have read the information. This printed information and sign-off sheets hold each staff member accountable for reviewing the information. Emails are sent to staff who have not completed the required education in a timely manner to remind them to do so.
Barriers
As previously mentioned, these beginning of shift huddles are only about five minutes in length. There is not enough time to educate staff but introduce education and display information for staff to review on their own time. It is difficult to evaluate if staff read and understood the information, as the only evaluation is a sign-off sheet. Another major barrier is a culture of “this is the way we have always done things,” which creates a perceived unwillingness to change and resistance to current trends (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). One way to overcome this barrier is to change the culture and ensure staff recognize that EBP (Evidence Based Practice) is grounded in research and has proven to provide best outcomes for patients (Newhouse, Dearholt, Poe, Pugh, & White, 2007).
Least Likely to Use
One strategy I would be least likely to use would be a seminar or other form of oral presentation. At my organization, we have had several seminars, talks, etc. cancelled because of staffing constraints. In a survey regarding EBP, staff mentioned feeling overwhelmed with their workloads and expectations, stating they felt a lack of support from their organizations (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). Support from administration could include bringing in additional staff on the days these seminars are held so staff do not have to attend educational events on their days off.
Another strategy I would be least likely to use would be social media. My organization has several social media pages where information and education is posted. There are also weekly updates that are sent via email and other methods like Microsoft Teams with educational information. I have found staff do not have enough time during the workday to read all this information. Staff have also verbalized wishing to “leave work at work” and not have to complete work-related tasks on days off. These lengthy emails and updates are not conducive to the current culture of my personal organization, as staffing and workloads are a major issue.
There are numerous dissemination strategies that can be used to get information out to staff members. Some dissemination strategies are beneficial however, some strategies are not as welcome and make staff feel less inclined to comply with the change. It is imperative then when a change occurs, the organization needs a plan, to be flexible, and listen to the nurses to make one adaptable for them (Newhouse et al., 2007). One dissemination strategy that my organization has implemented that I feel is the most effective is staff meetings to introduce a new policy/procedure, this allows staff to ask questions and provide feedback on their perceptions and concerns regarding the new policy. Another information outlet to staff that my organization utilizes is hangs up flyers regarding upcoming changes to the organization. I find this dissemination strategy helpful because it gives you the opportunity to become familiar with something new on your own then having it be told you in a demeaning manner. It offers a timeline for staff to be informed on when the change is going to occur and what to expect in the upcoming months and meetings to follow. This allows staff time to process information and produce questions they may want to ask at the staff meetings.
There are also less effective dissemination strategies my organization uses like sending out mass emails regarding the latest changes that are occurring. This is a poor dissemination strategy because I have witnessed numerous staff members say they did not get the email or see the email. Unfortunately, the organization we work at sends out several emails a day and most of them are ignored because they come every day and staff does not feel the need to read them as frequently because it feels like “junk” mail. Also, receiving an email is impersonal and not everyone has their email to access at home so at times they are blindsided by changes, and it angers them. Another less effective and more dangerous strategy is social media. We all know that with the rise of technology and social media outlets are being used increasingly, however, there is so much room for negative impacts of this. Anyone can write anything on the internet and social media sites, so the reliability of this information outlet is not effective. It is undetermined that you can trust things you see on social media, so to use this platform, you would need to be able to publish information through a reputable source that induvial would be able to trust the information that are receiving on social media. Through the COVID–19 pandemic, we relied heavily on social media to get information spread quickly, but we all have seen that so much misinformation was also spread through social media.
Dissemination of EBP developments is imperative to the growth of nursing. As research grows and advances practice models, we must grow and advance with them. Dissemination allows us to inform a large population of nurses and ancillary staff about updates and changes to current practice. “The Nursing Ace” endorses that the key to successful dissemination of information is audience engagement (Dissemination of Evidence Based Practice Project Results in Nursing, 2022).
One method of dissemination that I would be inclined to use is the use of pre-shift huddles. My facility holds nursing huddles prior to 7am and 7pm shifts. during this huddle, we go through safety concerns on the unit and review the current census of the unit. I think this would be a prime opportunity to provide dissemination of information. Another method I would use is to hold monthly staff meetings, via web, telephone, or in person, in which we review upcoming changes to practice recommendations. My current facility does not offer this for my unit, but I think it would be very beneficial in aiding professional growth. My previous facility had monthly meetings via Zoom and it was so convenient to be able to attend from home if I was not already at this hospital. This convenience makes it more likely that people will attend. This meeting should also be made available for viewing after the meeting has taken place. This allows staff members who were unable to participate in real time to get the important information shared during the meeting.
A method of dissemination I would not be likely to use is the use of email. Many of the nurses I talk to, myself included, say that they check their work emails once per week or less. Unless it is marked “urgent” it is unlikely that the information contained in the email will be reviewed in a timely manner. This is not substantial enough to justify its use for sharing important, time sensitive information. Another method I would be unlikely to use is just posting flyers in the break room or conference room. So often, we are so busy with patient care during our shifts that we miss these flyers. This leads to staff members missing important information and EBP updates.
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies
There are potential barriers to these chosen dissemination strategies. One of these is limited training time (Corrigan et al., 2001). Pre shift huddles often only last 5 to 10 minutes. This leaves little time for questions should they come up. While monthly staff meetings allow more time for questions, some individuals may need hands-on instruction rather than verbal instruction on upcoming changes. There could also be limited understanding on proposed changes by the charge nurses (Corrigan et al., 2001). This means they will be unable to answer questions promptly and may need to reach out for clarification, resulting in delayed answers for staff. This can waste valuable time when it comes to implementing EBP changes.
Overcoming Identified Barriers
To overcome these barriers there are a few actions we can take. If possible, we can leave the charge nurse out of staffing, or at least give her a lighter assignment so that she will be available throughout the shift to provide hands on instruction and assistance if needed. To do this, there are other barriers with staffing we must overcome, bit I do think that this will be beneficial long term. Additionally, we can have self-explanatory, user-friendly guides available for review on the units. The nurse can review the guide prior to performing the procedure in question. Charge nurses should also attend their own meetings so that they are up to date on all of the most recent and upcoming recommendations for practice so that they may serve as a resource for the staff.
Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use
Healthcare is constantly changing. With this change, nurses must be provided with the tools and environment to adapt to this change to continually provide safe and efficient patient care (Melnyk & Overholt, 2018). Healthcare leaders function each day with the ultimate goal of not causing harm to the sick, thus, ensuring that the care provided is supported by current and tested evidence (Caramanica & Gallagher-Ford, n.d.). The evidence-based practice fosters better patient outcomes and nursing autonomy. Thus, this new information should be available to all clinicians (Newhouse et al., 2007). However, providing information alone will not ensure clinician’s to use EBP (Melnyk et al., 2011). In the dissemination strategy, I will most likely use evidence-based poster presentations. According to Melnyk & Overholt (2018), information about your work is prioritized in posters. Additionally, signs are displayed longer, which will give more time for interaction with colleagues and are less intimidating. Moreover, additional information may be provided through handouts.
Another strategy I prefer is media. Due to increased popularity, this may find funding for future research. Additionally, it is a means to attract the most qualified individuals to work for your institution. Most importantly, increased funding means increased student jobs and further change in public health (Melnyk & Overholt, 2018).
I will least likely use panel presentations and round table presentations. Although panel presentations are advantageous in that clinicians with different backgrounds can share knowledge, it takes a knowledgeable panelist and moderator to make them successful (Melnyk & Overholt, 2018). It needs more work organizing and briefing panelists. On the other hand, round table presentations allow a common topic for discussion and practical application. However, one must consider environment in which round table presentations will take place as too crowded space will cause delays(Melnyk & Overholt, 2018).
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies/ Overcoming Identified Barriers
According to to Melnyk & Overholt (2018), poster needs to be built to catch the attention of the audience. If poorly designed, this will lead to poor format, information too much or not enough. To overcome this, one must learn how to present information that is concise making sure that the information stays relevant. In addition, presenters are expected to be beside the poster to answer questions from participants. However, scheduling the schedule for which the presenter is at the poster may help this issue so much so that interested participants will come together in a specific time. On the other hand, disadvantage of using media will be information overload for those who encounter it. To overcome this, one must make sure that information is clear and easy to understand. Melnyk & Overholt (2018) mentioned that one must use short sentences , and key messages should be summarized.
EBP Dissemination Strategies: Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use
I would be most inclined to use two dissemination strategies: small groups and social media. Small group dissemination is beneficial when working in a hospital setting where multiple departments are involved in the care of patients. Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt (2018) stated that disseminating in small groups can be beneficial in both grand and clinical rounds to provide an opportunity for the provider to discuss evidence-based research for advancing clinical practice. It will be necessary for the presenter to identify the clinical question, conduct evidence-based research, and recommend appropriate measures for patients. It will provide an opportunity for patients to receive informed, evidence-based care.
Another strategy I am most inclined to use is social media. This is an effective way to relay information to many people when change is necessary. Social media allows researchers to a network by connecting them to other researchers, clinicians, policymakers, the public, and stakeholders at a global level (Lee et al., 2021). Providing an opportunity for international networking can expand research efforts and provide valuable insight from other evidence-based researchers for further examination and positive impact.
The strategy I would be least likely to use is through a podium or oral presentations. While this is an effective way to present information, I am not the kind of person who enjoys public speaking in front of a large audience. While I do not enjoy public speaking, some people do, and it can be an effective way to present information to a targeted group. Podium presentations allow individuals to present the evidence-based research conducted, provide opportunities for networking and improve public speaking skills (Stec et al., 2021).
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies and how to Overcome them
Barriers to using dissemination in rounding include the initiation and implementation of change. It can be challenging to convince a healthcare team of change in care. Still, well-educated research can assist in initiating the identified intervention needed for the care of a patient or patient population. To support the argument, it will be essential to conduct evidence-based research before presenting the proposed change to the interdisciplinary group. During the implementation phase, it will be essential to incorporate core nursing staff and educate them on why this intervention benefits the identified patient or group for increased compliance.
Barriers to disseminating in social media include difficulty in filtering peer review and possibly misinterpreting the research presented. Strategies to overcome these barriers include carefully evaluating reviews to identify inaccuracies and correcting or refuting reviews on postings (Dijkstra et al., 2018). When it comes to misinterpretation, it will be important not to simplify or exclude vital information. It will also be important to present information concisely and accurately to avoid misunderstanding and be active in the conversation thread with evidence-based information to refute misconceptions.
Introduction
In healthcare, it is important that dissemination occurs in the workplace so that evidence-based practice can be communicated amongst staff members so that each patient gets the same level of care. Nurses who are competent in evidence-based practice should share this information with other staff members to ensure this. There are many ways that information can be shared, otherwise known as dissemination. The aim of this discussion post is to identify at least two dissemination strategies that I would be most inclined to use and one that I would be least inclined to use, as well as barriers that could be encountered.
Most Used Strategies
There are many strategies as well as reasons to disseminate evidence-based practice amongst staff. When evidence-based practice is implemented, there are reports of higher job satisfaction, lower turnover rate, and improved patient outcomes (Melnyk et al., 2011). To accomplish this, evidence-based practice should be considered the “norm” of the facility. One strategy to disseminate evidence-based practice that I find beneficial is to hold meetings with all staff so that the opportunity to ask questions can occur. Most of the staff could be considered stakeholders in the organization and it is important to make sure that their voices are heard. Strategies to engage stakeholders including building trust, understanding interests, soliciting input, connecting in a collaborative way, and promoting active engagement (Gallagher-Ford et al., 2011). Another strategy to disseminate information is through a change of shift report. Where I work, there is a general “huddle” that is read that applies to all staff before specific change of shift report information is given. This is used to communicate any changes or updates that need to be made aware of. I like this form of dissemination as each staff member is required to sign a log, verifying that they heard the “huddle” so that accountability for changes can be held.
Least Used Strategies
One dissemination strategy that I would be least inclined to use is that of memos in the form of posters. From experience, I find that this form of dissemination is regularly overlooked, even by myself. The facility where I work tends to resort to this form of announcement when there are meetings or required workshops. I find that information needs to be better passed along in this way. I am not sure if this is due to a lack of understanding or willingness. Melnyk et al. (2011) write that it is beneficial to first assess the organization’s or unit’s culture and readiness for evidence-based practice. This could be a reason why this form of dissemination is not effective at my place of work. Regardless, this strategy is one that I would only use after I have tried other techniques.
Barriers
According to Melnyk et al. (2017), barriers to evidence-based practice can include inadequate knowledge and skills of staff, misperceptions, organizational culture and policies, lack of support of leaders, and inadequate resources. The first strategy that I mentioned included staff meetings. One barrier that I have seen with these meetings is inadequate resources. Realistically, for each staff to have the opportunity to attend, there need to be multiple options for dates and times. This is rarely able to be done so there are always a few who miss out on the information. The other strategy that I mentioned is the group “huddle”. A barrier to this method of dissemination is that staff could be late for their shift, therefore missing this information as it is read the first thing at change of shift. Then, it is the responsibility of the charge nurse to relay this information to those staff members. This being said, Gallagher-Ford et al. (2011) write that there is no sustainable change to evidence-based practice with the dissemination of evidence alone, there needs to be reinforcement amongst the unit. So either way, extra effort is needed in the unit to ensure that the evidence-based practice information is implemented.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many strategies for dissemination that can be utilized to ensure that evidence-based practice techniques are implemented among organizations. This being said, there are certain strategies that are more favorable and effective than others. Most importantly, the unit and staff need to be willing to incorporate this into their workflow. There is also the issue of barriers that need to be considered when deciding on a strategy. Overall, evidence-based practice needs to be disseminated into practice in an effective way.
Evidence-based practice is an important aspect of healthcare delivery and there is an emphasis to continue implementing EBP in healthcare service provision. The two effective strategies that would be vital in disseminating evidence-based practice include the use of implementation guides and training (Dang et al., 2021). The implementation guides are handy in providing concise and clear instruction on the implementation of evidence-based practice including the pros and cons of implementation. For this reason, the guides ensure that the EBP is effectively implemented. Besides, the implementation guides may also provide strategies for overcoming barriers that may be encountered during the implementation process. The second strategy is training. The training may take the form of lectures, workshops, or seminars and may be tailored to the interest of the audience. Training may increase awareness of EBP among healthcare professionals and hence improve attitudes toward the implementation process.
Among the two strategies, I would incline more toward implementation guides. As stated in the paragraph above, the implementation guides provide clear instructions on how to implement EBP including the challenges that may be faced and how to overcome the challenges. Besides, implementation guides may be readily available for healthcare professionals wherever there is a need to refer to the instructions (Dang et al., 2021). Additionally, the implementation guides may further be used to train professionals who are new to the practice.
Implementation guides can be a useful tool for disseminating EBP and ensuring that they are implemented consistently and effectively. However, several potential barriers may arise when using implementation guides. One barrier is the availability of resources. Implementing EBP often requires additional resources such as training, equipment, or materials, and these resources may not always be readily available (Alatawi et al., 2020). This can make it difficult to implement the EBP as intended. For example, when dealing with a large number of professionals, it would be expensive and difficult to equip each individual with a copy of the implementation guide. For this reason, there would be a need to conduct training using the guides for information to reach many. Another potential barrier is the complexity of the practice. Some EBP guides may be complex or require a significant amount of training or support to implement. This is true with the eldest professionals who may find it an uphill task to use the guides (Li, Ciao & Zhu, 2019).
To overcome these barriers that may arise when using implementation guides, it is important to identify and address resource needs, build support and buy-in from key stakeholders, provide training and support, and regularly evaluate and adapt the implementation plan as needed. By taking these steps, it can be easier to ensure that the EBP is implemented effectively as recommended.
Two dissemination strategies that l will use to communicate EBP will be the use of podium presentations and the use of poster presentations. I feel like this is one of the more effective ways to get across to a lot of people at the organizational level. The dissemination strategy that l would be least inclined to use will be publication in peer reviewed journals, this is because not everyone is open to reading peer reviewed journals. Effective presenters go beyond content expertise to connect with audiences through various technique, format and presentation and styles (Wood et al., 2017).
Two barriers one might encounter using the podium presentation and poster presentation might be a lack of feedback immediately. Another barrier might be poor eye contact if one is focused on looking at the notes the whole time, which might lead to a lack of connection with the audience. They also learned that it’s critical to have an organizational culture that supports EBP (such as evidence-based decision making into performance expectations, up-to-date resources and tools, ongoing EBP knowledge and skills-building workshops, and EBP mentors at the point of care) in order for clinicians to deliver evidence-based care (Melnyk et al., 2011).
How these barriers can be overcome by allowing more time during the presentations for questions and feedback whether positive or negative. The goal of scientific meetings is to share research findings and offer a podium for scientific debate. Preferably, research findings that are not published (yet) are presented and discussed. This not only serves as a platform for researchers to update their knowledge on several topics, but it also offers the presenting authors some kind of ‘peer-review’ prior to preparing the results for publication (Janssen et al, 2016).
Evidence-based research results become useful when proper dissemination and communication are done, and stakeholders are adequately informed about their benefits. Researchers can use several dissemination strategies to share their results with stakeholders (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018; Melnyk, 2012). The dissemination strategies that will most likely be used in the planned research are oral organizational-level presentations and poster presentations. According to Swathi (2017), oral presentations allow the presenter to emphasize the presented information. When well-structured, oral presentations make it easier for the listeners to follow. As Arcila et al. (2022) explain, poster presentations improve communication experiences and enhance collaboration between researchers and the audience. Oral organizational-level presentations and poster presentations will enable the researchers to effectively share the results of implementing barcode medication administration (BCMA) technology with stakeholders.
The two dissemination strategies the research team will be less inclined to use are podium presentations at the national level and publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Although these two strategies are effective dissemination strategies for reaching a large audience in different locations, they are costly to implement. It will take a long time for the desired audience to receive and use the information in practice (Chua et al., 2022). However, it is essential to note that the research team might still experience some barriers when using oral organizational-level presentations and poster presentations. For example, the team might face resistance from some audience members who may fail to attend the meeting, and it might be unable to include detailed information in the posters to enhance understanding (Swathi, 2017; Arcila et al., 2022). The best strategies to overcome the identified barriers include informing the audience about the importance of the presentation in advance and developing short but precise posters that contain clear and relevant information.
Evidence-based practice involves the integration of clinical expertise with evidence derived from research, while taking into account the resources available and the preferences of patients (Renolen et al., 2019). It is essential to utilize evidence-based practice to disseminate information in the clinical setting. Dissemination in healthcare organizations involves distributing information and evidence-based resources or interventions to a group of people in clinical practice. Dissemination is an active approach to spreading evidence-based interventions to the target audience via predetermined channels using planned strategies (Knoepke et al., 2019). The purpose of dissemination is to communicate essential healthcare information to enable healthcare professionals to make effective clinical decisions based on evidence-based practice and improve healthcare outcomes.
There are a number of effective dissemination strategies that can be used to communicate vital information to target audiences in order to improve healthcare. Dissemination of data can be done in different ways, including publications, in-person or virtual meetings, webinars, and online resources. In order to determine the dissemination strategy that should be used, it is important to understand the target audience. The in-person meeting would be one of the strategies I would use in my clinical area. I find this strategy to be very useful in that it facilitates an interactive session and allows for feedback to be received from the audience. By using this strategy, the target audience is able to ask questions and gain a greater understanding of the information presented. In my role as an infection prevention specialist at my workplace, I have had opportunities to schedule meetings with different departments to discuss infection prevention strategies that can help mitigate the spread of infections. By using this strategy, the staff and patients are able to ask questions to clarify the information received. In this COVID-19 outbreak, my infection prevention team and I have successfully disseminated vital evidence-based information regarding how to protect employees and patients from the virus, proper use of personal protective equipment, and proper hand hygiene and disinfection techniques in order to prevent the spread of the virus. The use of posters and other essential publications is another effective dissemination strategy. Posters providing information about effective clinical practices are displayed in strategic locations throughout the facility in order to make sure that patients and employees are aware of the most vital information. Both staff and patients can access the information displayed on these posters in the units. Due to the fact that not everyone has access to social media or online resources, I am less likely to use social media or online dissemination strategies. This strategy reduces the progression of the dissemination of information and defeats its purpose.
There are several barriers that can prevent dissemination strategies from being effective. Lack of continuing education and unsupportive culture are significant barriers to dissemination (Owoade, n.d.). Sometimes the management does not provide adequate supports for the dissemination process by sponsoring the production of materials and resources needed for the meetings and posters to be displayed. When this situation occurs, the dissemination process can be delayed, which can have a negative impact on the outcome. It is also important to acknowledge that one of the barriers to the dissemination of evidence-based practices is a lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals about them. Some clinicians find it challenging to participate actively in information dissemination due to a lack of research and understanding of EBP. In my opinion, to enhance the dissemination of evidence-based practice, the organization must develop a supportive culture and system to facilitate the process.
Change is a good thing, but it is hard to get people to practice change without supporting evidence, especially in healthcare. Getting people to buy into what you’re promoting is the key to facilitating change based on evidence-based practice (EBP). The main goal in the dissemination of evidence is to promote the transfer and adoption of research findings into clinical practice (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). Evidence-based practice changes need to be supported by the dissemination of evidence.
There are many ways to present research evidence findings. My favorite in the hospital-based setting is a poster presentation. I am a member of the Pressure Injury Prevention (PIP) team and Wound Care team and have made several posters and presented them regarding the prevention of pressure injuries and care of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). I prefer poster presentations because they offer direct and concise information. I also like the posters because I include pictures as a visual representation. Another way to disseminate evidence is through small groups in clinical rounds. This could be accomplished during a shift huddle by presenting a brief and detailed outline and oral presentation. This method allows for the meaningful involvement of the clinical staff (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018).
Dissemination is an art, just as nursing is. Careful communication of clinical, research, and theoretical findings are needed to transition new knowledge to clinical practice (Dudley-Brown, 2019). One barrier of poster presentations is getting information presented to all staff. Several meetings will need to be scheduled in order to accommodate all shifts and employees. Another barrier is where should the poster be placed after the presentation to gain the most viewers. I have found near the time clock to be an effective place, if approval is gained by management. Barriers to the small group clinical rounds is a lack of engagement by staff members and time constraints. Some staff members are just not interested in learning new information, no matter what the evidence indicates.
The dissemination route that I would least be inclined to use is evidence through a published article. I lack knowledge and confidence in this arena and feel that I can better affect change at the clinical, hands-on level. Research that lacks dissemination may be considered useless in influencing positive health outcomes. One strategy to avoid barriers to EBP change is to identify and involve key stakeholders during the research design and discussion (Derman & Jaeger, 2018). When looking to affect change in the healthcare setting, always do your research and know your audience.
EBP Dissemination Strategies: Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use
Dissemination can be described as getting information to the public covering a large area (MeInyk & Overholt, 2018). There are many ways of dissemination strategies. Some common ones are policy briefs, journal articles, press releases, presenting to stakeholders, building a flyer or DVD, submitting information to a newspaper, and health fairs. I am not a public speaker, so I would be least likely to speak at a press release or create a DVD. I am visual, so creating a flyer or hosting a health fair would be more of my forte and, I believe, more informative to learners. But in the end, I believe it would depend on what you were trying to accomplish and how widespread you were trying to make it (Rural Health Information Hub, n.d.).
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies
Barriers associated with a flyer and health fair could be the geographical location, how can I get people to come from afar to my health fair, and how can I get my information out there, widespread to just more than my town, county, community, etc. How do I get people to travel from a distance to receive this information? Another barrier would be the resources, such as funding for the health fair and the supplies needed. One should also take into consideration workers for the project of flyer development and getting it out there to the public. Funding would also be needed to advertise the health fair (Rural Health Information Hub, n.d.).
Overcoming Identified Barriers
One way to overcome the barriers would be to know my audience and whom I am trying to reach and get this information. It is essential to know the benefits and risks of the projects as well. There is also a need to ensure that the information provided is attractive and attention-seeking to the population (Brownson, Eyler, Harris, Moore, & Tabak, 2018). Connecting with people from afar to help get information, such as the flyer out there, and spreading the word for advertisements relating to the health fair would be beneficial. Lastly, stressing the need for funding to stakeholders for flyers and health fairs to present the information is another key to success.
Two dissemination strategies that would be most inclined to use
When effectively disseminating articles effective communication and transdisciplinary teamwork have been shown through evidence-based research to improve quality care. If management and staff are communicating effectively and are focused on the same goals the organization can identify potential risks, and errors, and prevent them before they occur. When organizations are listening effectively and responding to their staff’s insights, this will improve safety and quality (Melnyk, 2012).
The second strategy that has shown to be effective is training organizations and stakeholders about the importance of evidence-based training and implementing it. There will be times when staff does not agree and do not want change. When you start at the top of an organization, and you train; stakeholders must be engaged (Gallagher-Ford et al, 2011). Stakeholders must understand the objective and logic behind it. You need to have someone who knows the research and is trustworthy when educating. Staff must feel they can ask questions and have honest feedback.
Least inclined dissemination strategies to be used.
To facilitate change in an organization there needs to be a well-formulated strategic plan along with vision and belief. Two dissemination strategies that can be detrimental to an organization are allowing change efforts to fail due to focus and energy being placed on the late majority and laggards. This needs to be focused on the stakeholder that is excited about the change. Another dissemination strategy that would like less to be used would be a podium presentation for training. These usually have time limits of 15 to 20 minutes and public speaking can be uncomfortable for some presenters (Melnyk & Fineout- Overholt, 2018)
Barriers to be encountered and overcoming these barriers
A major barrier in evidence-based practice among facilitators and healthcare organizations is a lack of knowledge to change health behaviors. To overcome these barriers different strategies, need to use such as coaching, training, and text messages. The effectiveness of these interventions included frequency, follow-up time, and intensity (Chapman, et al. 2020). If uninterested staff is a barrier, then look at the audience and see what presentation would involve them and involve them in the presentation.
Developing A Culture of Evidence-Based Practice
The evidence-based practice (EBP) enhances healthcare quality, improves patient outcomes, reduces costs, and empowers clinicians. This is also known as a quadruple aim in healthcare. (Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018).
EBP Dissemination Strategies: Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use
The dissemination strategies are categorized into two types: internal and external. The internal dissemination takes the form of a brief project summary in a newsletter, blog, or the internet, where other clinicians get updates on their practice. External dissemination includes a poster, podium presentation at conferences, or publication in a journal. Social media is also included in this category. The central social media platforms include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I’m inclined to use external dissemination rather than internal, mainly social media. Because I use social media as a stress-relief mechanism, I have almost zero barriers to approaching this platform. What I like about this platform is that I can open up my apps, scroll down on the pages, and get immediate updates. The immediate feedback on the most incredible restaurants, updates from my friends, and updates on healthcare professionals and organizations I follow are genuinely pleasurable. It makes work more enjoyable. This leaves internal dissemination to be least inclined to use. Internal dissemination requires efforts on my end, the steps to log in to a newsletter and follow up on blogs or professional organization websites to get an update. This effort is a barrier to getting quick updates on recent practice updates. (Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018).
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies
Nurses should practice the EBP process as care that is not evidence-based is likely unethical and incompetent. Incorporating EBP into practice has been shown to promote optimal patient outcomes, stimulate innovation in clinical practice, and promote the value of the nursing profession in the healthcare system. However, there remains to be a gap and barriers to EBP in nurses. The overwhelming amount of evidence findings in the research is one factor to the barrier, but also human factors, including lack of knowledge about EBP and skills needed to conduct EBP, nurses’ negative attitude toward research, and evidence-based care make up other barriers. Last but not least, the barrier of lack of organizational systems or infrastructure to support clinicians using EBP. Causes for barriers in this category include lack of authority for clinicians to make changes in practice, lack of time during the workday, lack of administrative support, and conflicting priorities between unit work and research. (Milner., K. (n.d.).
Overcoming Identified Barriers
The three main components of evidence-based practice include utilizing the best external evidence, drawing on individual clinical expertise, and considering patient values and expectations. (The Role of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing. (2020, August 19). Implementing the EPB requires interdisciplinary professionals to collaborate as a team. The healthcare organization should provide a culture and environment to build and promote EBP. For example, by giving clinicians ladders and performance evaluations incorporating EBP. Another way to resolve the barrier includes the Federal funding of EBP centers and task forces to appraise evidence to screen and manage clinical practice guidelines. They could address the issues posed by the barriers and help resolve the problem. (Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018).
EBP Dissemination Strategies: Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use
I believe the most effective and realistic approach to educating nursing staff on evidence-based practice is to present a topic in a combination of shift change huddle presentations using narrative pedagogy, along with self-instructional mandatory modules related to the topic. Narrative pedagogy is an approach used by a speaker who is using a personal story to present a topic that triggers the audience’s empathy and interest (Walter, 2022). To ensure that the information was properly communicated, a mandatory module containing the most important details of the presentation should be assigned to staff, as self-instructional modules are proven to increase the knowledge of evidence-based practice in nursing (Nandaprakash et al., 2019)
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies
Unfortunately, shift change huddles are very short (Approximately 20 minutes). It is possible to implement a narrative pedagogy presentation to trigger empathy and interest from the audience, however distractions such as staff coming in late due to a grace period of a clock-in would stand in a way of fully achieving the goal. Without the audience’s full interest and empathy, educational modules tend to be met with resistance from the audience (Walter, 2022).
Overcoming Identified Barriers
Informing the staff of the scheduled presentation by the speaker to ensure all staff is present at a specific strict time at the start of the grace period for clock-in. Short and interesting storytelling which includes evidence-based practice can be easily done during a 20-minute huddle without distractions, therefore staff participation and respect for the speaker are necessary to overcome this barrier of lack of time for education (Schneider, 2023). It is extremely important for the speaker to prepare the presentation for the audience with objectives triggering audience interest in order to effectively use the narrative pedagogy technique in such a short amount of time. Effectively capturing the audience’s interest would prompt a positive attitude to read and comprehend information from the module ensuring effective evidence base practice education has been successfully implemented.
EBP Dissemination Strategies: Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use
Culture and technology are two areas of healthcare that makes healthcare to be constantly changing. Culture is defined as learned patterns of behavior and values practiced through social interaction, shared by members of a particular group, and transmitted from generation to generation (Baker, 2020). Cultures are diverse, and healthcare professionals must be open to the values and beliefs of others in order to provide the best possible care for each patient. A person’s culture influences their life experiences and, therefore, their perceptions of health, illness, and treatment (Baker, 2020). One of the things I have learned during my long career as a nurse is that as a nurse, you need to learn and understand the cultural contexts of others which helps to facilitate communication and helps create an effective nurse-patient relationship (Baker, 2020). We learn about cultures through education and training, but the best way to learn is from patients as we work with them to determine the best course of treatment and care.
Along with culture, the technology significantly impacts the healthcare sector, increasing opportunities to provide the best possible care to patients. Not only does it help patients learn more about their health, but it also facilitates care collaboration between providers and medical professionals. Increasing culture and technology in everyday life, along with evidence-based medicine, has put the patient in the treatment plan; because the treatment plan is about the patient and must continue after discharge, it makes sense to let them participate. Optimal patient care requires a combination of evidence-based medicine and patient communication (Hoffman et al., 2014).
At my current job, we seek to incorporate all patients’ values and beliefs into treatment plans by asking for their input, making it difficult to describe an experience. I work in a crisis stabilization center. Many patients are in a mental health crisis when they come to the hospital, and many of them are not at a level where they can decide on a treatment policy at the time of their visit, so the staff begins to develop a treatment plan themselves. It is best not to include the patient in the treatment plan because they are mentally unstable at this time. When the patient is more stable, we bring them in and include them in the planning process. Research shows that patients who participate in health care decisions are more likely to continue to make those decisions after they leave the hospital, which is our facility’s belief. A Nurse Practitioner sees each patient on the care team daily to review the patient’s medications, general condition, and post-discharge care plan. They involve patients in discussions about medication regimens that help or may help improve their mental health, which is reasonable to follow. Ask the patient to create a safety plan to refer to if they are in crisis again. We do not decide for the patient but let them choose the best for their life. Another part of the treatment plan that includes them is the treatment follow-up plan. We assisted them in looking for the phone number of providers in their local area, but they chose which provider to call and book a follow-up. I have seen that this brings better results. Their participation helps us understand their values and beliefs along the way. Patients have the right to be involved in their treatment plans, and we, as providers, try to involve them in all decisions as much as possible.
The least dissemination strategy used is posters. This is because many of the patients admitted to the center are in mental crisis and might not fully understand the poster. For example, schizophrenia patients might interpret the poster as people trying to get them or even someone watching them, which might hinder their treatment and thus defeat the poster’s purpose.
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies
Incorporating patient preferences and values does not always lead to the best results. What the provider feels is the right course of action to treat someone, together with clinical expertise, has been effective (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). A patient may disagree with this course of treatment. For example, schizophrenia patients do not believe in drugs for some reason, which may lead to frequent readmission due to the return of symptoms. When discharged, they stop taking medication, against medical advice, thus ending up in another hospitalization. Therefore, when planning a treatment plan, we need to think outside the box and find ways for patients to seek help before they are hospitalized, like symptoms or clues to watch out for. I chose Patient Decision Support for Panic Attacks (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 2019). Besides schizophrenia, there are often patients who do not want to take medicine. This help provides information about the disease and the medicines needed to treat it. It explains what to expect and what will happen if you do not take medication to treat it. It also explains why healthcare provider recommends medications, what medications are available, and what medications are
used as treatments, and shares other patient personal stories about their thoughts and decisions on medication. Patients’ thoughts and decisions about taking these aids give you a complete view of all aspects of the disease so that you can make an informed decision about any issue.
Overcoming Identified Barriers
As nurses, we know and are taught that patient education is one of the most important things we do as nurses. These aids can be used as educational tools to present facts to patients. This helps patients to be informed about their care and make confident decisions. This tool can be used in our personal life to deal with our health care and the problems of loved ones. The website provided by The Ottawa Hospital Decision Support Resources has a lot of valuable and educational information to share with others.
Introduction
Evidence dissemination aims to inform and spread a comprehensive understanding of the best available research to motivate the uptake of evidence-based practice by increasing people’s ability to use and apply the best available evidence across geographical locations, healthcare settings, and social networks (AHRQ, 2019). The targeted population includes healthcare consumers, professionals, and policy developers. Therefore, it is essential to interpret evidence into a comprehensible language that meets the targeted population literacy level. Delivering concise, timely, relevant information that is accessible keeps the targeted population engaged for a more effective translation of information (Ashcraft et al., 2020; Chapman et al., 2020). According to the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (2019), a multifaced approach is the most effective.
EBP Dissemination Strategies: Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use
I am most inclined to use two strategies: infographics/posters and presentations. Infographics can be printed and posted anywhere and provide timely and concise information; it also provides generalizable images and statistics that reach a broader audience and are still valuable for individuals with impairments. Presentations are good because it is multifaced. Presentations and meetings allow for audience interaction and able to answer questions or concerns. Presentations and meetings can also assist in communicating decision-making facilitation strategies regarding evidence.
The least likely strategies would be emailing communication and social platforms. Emailing communications are often overlooked, misplaced, or never received due to connectivity and storage issues per experience. For example, organizations send multiple emails daily, which can be overstimulating and causes information overload. Social platforms can also be overstimulating as information is added 24/7, and individuals are always utilizing bits and pieces of information, making it difficult for the audience to decipher between facts and misleading information (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt,2019).
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies
Barriers would include having individuals with different literacy levels and needing help to tailor the information for everyone. Other issues with presentations and meetings would be technical issues, and not all individuals being able to attend.
Overcoming Identified Barriers
One way to address the previously mentioned barriers would be to provide presentations for a specific audience to meet their characteristics and make it relatable. For example, presenting to healthcare providers, then a different day for healthcare consumers to avoid medical jargon. For presentations and meetings ensuring to have a backup plan for incase of any technical issues (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019). To ensure everyone gets the meeting’s exact information, a meeting information email can be sent or provide flexibility for multiple days for individuals to attend. To conclude, to be successful in disseminating evidence-based research one must be knowledgeable of the pros and cons or each strategy to prepare for barrier ahead of time. Another thing one must consider is the setting and guidelines to follow for each strategy.
Introduction
Groundbreaking clinical breakthroughs and new evidence will only be able to reach their maximum potential and value to practice if it is communicated to other healthcare professionals and properly disseminated. There are many strategies of dissemination that can allow the communication of evidence-based findings (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). This discussion will review the most and least inclined dissemination strategies, potential barriers, and how to overcome them.
Dissemination Strategies Most Inclined to Use
One dissemination strategy I would be most inclined to use would be poster presentations. In addition to printed posters, poster presentations have evolved to include electronic poster presentations, which can be displayed via wide-screen monitors or computers (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). Being a visual person that is not accustomed to public speaking, I like the idea of creatively presenting the information on a visual poster, allowing participants to review and process the information at their own pace and being available if they have any questions or want to discuss any key points.
Another dissemination strategy I would be inclined to use would be through small group formats, such as clinical or grand rounds. These presentations include a small oral presentation with audiovisual slides or videos and a question-and-answer period. Internet-based grand rounds are interesting to me because it is a smaller amount of people vs a podium presentation, and internet-based rounds can enable participants to attend the presentation remotely. In addition, participants can email questions or comments (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018).
Dissemination Strategies Least Inclined to Use
One dissemination strategy that I am least inclined to use is panel presentations. A moderator coordinates panel presentations, directs the discussions, and asks questions to panelists to elicit their opinions on topics. Questions from the audience can be taken (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). I would not choose this type of dissemination strategy because I do not prefer public speaking, and many factors can change the presentation’s direction. In addition, there are many things to consider while being a panelist, such as time limitations, interruptions, and possible tangential remarks, which seem stressful to me.
Another dissemination strategy that I am least inclined to use is podium presentations. Podium presentations, otherwise known as oral presentations, can be an excellent way to disseminate information. Generally, podium presentations have time limits and vary from 10 minutes to up to an hour and can include visual slides (Redulla, 2023). Although podium presentations can be a benefit, public speaking can be very uncomfortable for me, which is why I am least inclined to select this method of dissemination.
Recognizing and Overcoming Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies
The design of poster presentations should be well thought out. Content-dense posters can be ineffective and difficult to read; on the other hand, too little information can also be damaging as it can limit the study’s potential. Poorly designed posters can be detrimental and lead participants away. One strategy to overcome this issue is considering bullet points instead of much solid text, ensuring text is as concise and clear as possible, and focusing on key points (Saver, 2021).
Barriers to dissemination through small groups, if done in the hospital, can be time constraints. One strategy mentioned by Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt (2018) to overcome this issue is to do a internet-based rounds, which enable participants to attend at their convenience.
EBP Dissemination Strategies: Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use
The dissemination of research-specific practices to clinical settings or public health is integral to the evidence-based practices (EBP) that nurses are responsible for implementing. However, the most current evidence-based practices (EBPs) will be successfully applied once they are widely disseminated and conveyed (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). The term “evidence-based practice” (EBP) refers to a problem-solving approach to healthcare delivery that integrates clinical expertise, patient values and preferences, and the most up-to-date scientific data (Gallagher-Ford et al., 2011). However, the most up-to-date evidence-based practices (EBPs) will be widely adopted once they are widely shared and conveyed (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). According to Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt (2018), dissemination makes knowledge widely available or circulated. Several context-specific measures may be used to assess the efficacy of efforts to disseminate evidence-based practice.
Dissemination Strategies
If I were to disseminate knowledge, I would prioritize two methods: a unit-level presentation and a poster presentation. Using unit-level presentations, advocating for possibilities, and including challenges in practice are made more manageable, casual, and cost less. Every week, we have meetings to discuss updates with the facility or any updates in healthcare. New rules and procedures, anticipated surveyor visits, administration follow-ups, and HAI-related indicators for our unit will all be discussed during these meetings. Nurses often cite knowledge, skills, time, and resources as barriers to evidence-based practice (EBP) (Hagedorn-Wonder & York, 2017). By coming together in these meetings, we can discuss any issues that may arise, learn from each other’s experiences, and improve our unit and the care we provide to our patients.
Disseminating evidence-based practice (EBP) knowledge via poster presentations is another low-cost, casual way. Healthcare providers, clinicians, and nursing students of varying educational levels, experience levels, and specializations may collaborate via a poster presentation (Humbles, 2019). When presented on a poster, material may be read and absorbed at the participant’s own pace, which can be very beneficial. Most people in the healthcare industry are visual and kinesthetic learners; therefore, they prefer to know what is shown graphically instead of hearing it spoken orally. Unlike a unit-level presentation, a poster on spreading EBP allows for a wide range of concerns to be covered. For instance, in the facility where I used to work, we have a communication board that posts updates on CLABSI data (CLABSI). Recently, a poster was created to illustrate how the biopatch may be used effectively to prevent skin organisms from accessing the insertion site and causing blood infections. Staff attention was drawn to the importance of this process in reducing preventable CLABSIs by demonstrating the patch’s continuous antisepsis and correct application.
Dissemination Strategies Least Likely to Use, Why
Among the strategies available, a national-level presentation is the one I use the least. Since I am not presently engaged in any programs or research at the national level that would entail generating new evidence-based practices, this is the level of the presentation I am least likely to undertake.
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies and How to Overcome
Participation and time constraints are potential obstacles to utilizing a poster and giving presentations at the unit level. Although presentations at the unit level are often given at the weekly meeting, they take place at the start of the meeting. Having many well-advertised presentations at the unit level at different times of the day might help overcome this obstacle. Providing the demonstration as an ePoster through email or a necessary learning assignment would be a barrier to overcoming the time restrictions and lack of employee involvement in a poster presentation. While the ePoster would allow employees to study the presentation at their convenience, the anticipated learning assignment would ensure and recognize that they had done so. As a result, the ePoster would serve as a magnet to draw people in and encourage engagement via the further discourse of information sharing that forms the foundation of community debate (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018).
Conclusion
Spreading EBP may be done via several different methods. Technology may have made healthcare delivery more efficient, but that does not mean doctors and nurses cannot still share evidence that helps their colleagues and the community give better treatment. Although challenges may arise, presenters must always be well-prepared and aware of the demands of their audience if they want their study to be accepted and put into practice.
EBP Dissemination Strategies
The conundrum of healthcare today is based on the quality of patient care, costs of care for patients and facilities, staff satisfaction and positive outcomes for the patients. One of the most important ways to positively effect these issues is best practice measures through evidence-based practice (Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk; Ellen Fineout-Overholt &, 2018). In a large facility setting, making sure everyone is on board for the best outcomes is a difficult task. It is the job of the executive team down to the staff on the front lines to disseminate the EBP in a manner that is well received by all.
Most Likely Dissemination Strategies Inclined to Use
Electronics and people are almost inseparable. We are on our phones for directions, scrolling through social media, utilizing electronic medical records for ourselves and at work, it is in our cars with the push of a button. Social Media is the first dissemination strategy that I believe to be useful to communicate evidenced-based practice to our teams. “The percentage of US adults who use at least 1 social media tool has grown from near 0% in 2005 to 69% in 2016,62 and there is little difference in social media use by race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, or community type” (Brownson et al., 2018). We use a platform called Crew to communicate between our five surgical services units. When we initially started utilizing this platform there was push back from several staff members. Many stated they did not want to be bothered when they were not at work with work issues. We held a class to teach those who were skeptical about the platform how to silence notifications. We set boundaries and expectations for what this should be use for. It has turned out to be a great place for our educators to post information about practice change and outcomes. It gives the teams the opportunity to discuss and discover together on their own times. This has been a positive way for our educators and leaders to get our EBP in a timely fashion.
Everyone seems to be busy and always on the go. Adding one more mandatory meeting to learn about a new EBP roll out really brings down staff morale and helps to increase burnout. Another creative way we have found to disseminate EBP is with a what’s new at the facility HealthStream. There is no test at the end, and it cannot be more than five slides. When there is a practice change that requires a check off, we have a skills lab set up that is staffed with an educator during the day for questions and concerns. The staff can do a self-check off and the educators are there to assist if needed. Durning the evening hours, if a staff member cannot complete the skill or has questions or concerns, they may set up an appointment with an educator. This process has been a win for the staff and educators.
Barriers to Strategies
There are many barriers to get nurses to utilize evidence-based practice including lack of knowledge about what EBP actually is, fear of not understanding and working differently than their co-workers, too much information and time constraints (Melnyk, 2002). The time constraint barriers with the strategies I utilize are the ability for the staff to learn on their own time. They also have access to the educators to answer questions and assist with any new techniques in private without having to feel less than in front of their peers.
EBP Dissemination Strategies
The conundrum of healthcare today is based on the quality of patient care, costs of care for patients and facilities, staff satisfaction and positive outcomes for the patients. One of the most important ways to positively effect these issues is best practice measures through evidence-based practice (Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk; Ellen Fineout-Overholt &, 2018). In a large facility setting, making sure everyone is on board for the best outcomes is a difficult task. It is the job of the executive team down to the staff on the front lines to disseminate the EBP in a manner that is well received by all.
Most Likely Dissemination Strategies Inclined to Use
Electronics and people are almost inseparable. We are on our phones for directions, scrolling through social media, utilizing electronic medical records for ourselves and at work, it is in our cars with the push of a button. Social Media is the first dissemination strategy that I believe to be useful to communicate evidenced-based practice to our teams. “The percentage of US adults who use at least 1 social media tool has grown from near 0% in 2005 to 69% in 2016,62 and there is little difference in social media use by race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, or community type” (Brownson et al., 2018). We use a platform called Crew to communicate between our five surgical services units. When we initially started utilizing this platform there was push back from several staff members. Many stated they did not want to be bothered when they were not at work with work issues. We held a class to teach those who were skeptical about the platform how to silence notifications. We set boundaries and expectations for what this should be use for. It has turned out to be a great place for our educators to post information about practice change and outcomes. It gives the teams the opportunity to discuss and discover together on their own times. This has been a positive way for our educators and leaders to get our EBP in a timely fashion.
Everyone seems to be busy and always on the go. Adding one more mandatory meeting to learn about a new EBP roll out really brings down staff morale and helps to increase burnout. Another creative way we have found to disseminate EBP is with a what’s new at the facility HealthStream. There is no test at the end, and it cannot be more than five slides. When there is a practice change that requires a check off, we have a skills lab set up that is staffed with an educator during the day for questions and concerns. The staff can do a self-check off and the educators are there to assist if needed. Durning the evening hours, if a staff member cannot complete the skill or has questions or concerns, they may set up an appointment with an educator. This process has been a win for the staff and educators.
Barriers to Strategies
There are many barriers to get nurses to utilize evidence-based practice including lack of knowledge about what EBP actually is, fear of not understanding and working differently than their co-workers, too much information and time constraints (Melnyk, 2002). The time constraint barriers with the strategies I utilize are the ability for the staff to learn on their own time. They also have access to the educators to answer questions and assist with any new techniques in private without having to feel less than in front of their peers.
Least Likely to Use Dissemination Strategies
There are several outdated practices to disseminating EBP. Two strategies that I am least likely to utilize include staff meetings and having poster boards in the break room. Staff meetings are once a month. We do not require staff to come to the meetings in person. They have the option to call in and are only required to attend seventy percent of the meetings. The meetings are usually before a shift given time constraints to rolling out the new practice. The posterboard technique is a disservice to the person that makes it and the team. It is usually in the way or shoved in the corner of a breakroom, and with staffing shortages most do not want to read and learn on their breaks.
Least Likely to Use Dissemination Strategies There are several outdated practices to disseminating EBP. Two strategies that I am least likely to utilize include staff meetings and having poster boards in the break room. Staff meetings are once a month. We do not require staff to come to the meetings in person. They have the option to call in and are only required to attend seventy percent of the meetings. The meetings are usually before a shift given time constraints to rolling out the new practice. The posterboard technique is a disservice to the person that makes it and the team. It is usually in the way or shoved in the corner of a breakroom, and with staffing shortages most do not want to read and learn on their breaks.
Strategies for effective dissemination of evidence-based practice models
A successful evidence-based practice (EBP) program requires dedication and commitment. Staff must have structured time to develop the EBP skills and competencies they plan to implement. Some ways to disseminate EBP skills and information are rapid cycle training, one or two-day seminars, multidisciplinary groups, and team mentoring. (Newhouse, 2011) Other practical tools are job descriptions and performance evaluation tools. When onboarding, make the evidence-based practice goals known in the job description. Write performance evaluations and weight merit increases based on EBP competencies. (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019) There is a need for managers and leaders to have accountability for EBP. You will have more followers leading by example versus verbal statements.
Most inclined to use barriers
I have taught American Heart Association courses for nearly 20 years. The material is evidence supported and reviewed annually. The courses use video resources, but I enjoy presenting the material in small group settings. It is engaging to allow the class to ask questions and present scenarios staged in their current practice settings. It allows the learner to relate to an event, and then it is easy to incorporate evidence-based guidelines in their day-to-day practice. The teamwork and collaboration between the different disciplines are positive. One of the barriers to this type of dissemination is always someone trying to hijack the training. They know more and have done more, and of course, “this is how we have always done it.” To overcome this mentality, I always have a current peer or committee-reviewed studies available for discussion.
Speaking from a director of the nursing viewpoint, I like the leadership strategies of using job performance evaluation tools. I disseminate EBP material monthly in a webinar team meeting for the 50-plus nursing staff within our organization and then follow the interactive meeting with a team web post of the written materials. A barrier to this method is getting staff to read and review the materials. The specific competencies are outlined in the material, and a verbal or visual demonstration of the outlined competency is required with a scoring system between one and four, with one being the lowest rating and full retraining of the skill needed and four showing full independent competency. Adding a rating scale and having a verbal or visual demonstration reduces the barrier that staff will read the material.
Least inclined to use
I would be least inclined to use a library source or lengthy seminar to disseminate the material. It would be difficult to hold the staff’s attention for a lengthy period. I think most people learn by more than one method, and the combination of verbal, visual, and hands-on learning aid in retaining the material.
Sustainability of EBP
An organizational-level EBP model can aid in the job satisfaction of staff and better patient outcomes. (Melnyk et al. 2011) Many like the comfort in best practice guidelines to support decisions.
EBP Dissemination Strategies: Most Inclined to Use
Distribution refers to the act of distributing, delivering, distributing, spreading, or dispersing. Broadcasting information to the general public in the medical field is important. Dissemination is a key information strategy designed to raise awareness of some evidence-based interventions to increase their effectiveness. Among the many recognized dissemination strategies, I would rather use social media. In today’s modern world, the use of social media to disseminate health research is increasing exponentially. With this tool, you can expand your reach, drive engagement, and have easy access to authoritative health research.
EBP Dissemination Strategies: Least Likely to Use
The least utilized dissemination strategy is leaflets and posters. Presentations and PowerPoint presentations. While these methods are recognized as being particularly effective in disseminating information, they may not be effective in disseminating some important information to different audiences. For example, posters and brochures can be difficult to correct and adjust as needed. Its inflexibility can be misleading to the audience because it cannot be changed or adjusted (jog). Methods, on the other hand, are meant to be visually prominent. In this case, the audience may select the wrong information instead of the intended information, therefore they may be inappropriate.
Overcoming Identified Barriers
While social media may be my preferred strategy for disseminating evidence-based information and practical information, there are obstacles related to the process. For example, the effectiveness of your social media distribution depends on how many followers your page has. Dissemination is effective when the audience is large enough and information can be shared and re-shared. On the other hand, using social media dissemination strategies can be problematic depending on the type of audience receiving the information. Since the platform has a large number of random users, it is not known whether the information will reach the target audience (Bhatt et al., 2021).
EBP Dissemination Strategies: Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use
Throughout this course, we have learned a lot about research and how evidence is derived from research. In our daily work as nurses, we use evidence-based interventions to care for our patients. The missing link: How does the evidence obtained from research gets disseminated and implemented into regular practice? Disseminating is described as “The process of distributing or circulating information widely.” (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018, p. 752). When a change in practice is implemented, its success is built upon the initial dissemination of the new practice guidelines and why the new practice is being implemented. I have done several projects in my healthcare career that involved implementing a practice change. One project was a change to bedside handoff when I was an Emergency Room nurse. To implement the practice change, the team that I was a part of creating an information board that highlighted why the change was being implemented, including evidence that showed that it is a safer practice. The change in practice was also discussed in staff meetings and in the morning staff safety huddle. At the time that I worked on this project, I was a relatively newer nurse. It was rewarding to be a part of a practice change that improved patient safety.
When I was an ER Tech (my first job in healthcare), I was on a team that was made up of various ER staff members that were attempting to increase patient satisfaction in our department. Our team met monthly to discuss how our implemented strategies were working, and to plan new interventions. Members of the team volunteered to make presentations that would introduce the new interventions to the staff. I was the speaker at a ceremony that highlighted the increased patient satisfaction numbers that were achieved during the first year of the new patient satisfaction team. It was rewarding to be a part of this team and the one that implemented bedside handoff in the ER. I enjoyed collaborating with members of our ER staff, nurses, and management.
In the first project I mentioned, the team used presentation boards, face-to-face interactions, smaller meetings, and larger staff meetings to disseminate information about the new practice. The second project that I mentioned incorporated presentation boards that we displayed in our staff break room, information posted on staff communication boards, email communication, and staff meetings to disseminate a new strategy to improve patient satisfaction. The changes that each of these groups implemented were for one unit in the hospital, and not the entire hospital or health system. The meetings and presentations that we used to disseminate information seemed to work well for the type of changes that we were making.
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies
The main barrier that I encountered with both of these projects was resistance from my colleagues. Another issue was time constraints. In the ER there is not usually much free time to have meetings, develop presentations, and talk with the staff about the practice change(s) that are occurring.
Overcoming Identified Barriers
Resistance to change seems to be a common human trait, and healthcare is no exception. For both of the projects I mentioned, it was important to have the support of the leadership team in the department. Leadership is an important factor in the success of a practice change (Newhouse et al., 2007). Management supported the changes that were being made and helped to reinforce the importance of the new practice(s).
The other barrier that we had to overcome was time. Change takes time to plan and implement. The teams that I was a part of met mostly during work hours. Then, implementing change in a busy ER has many challenges as well. This added to the time that it took to fully roll out practice changes. This is where leadership helped, but taking any opportunity (such as morning huddles) to discuss the changes that were being made was important. Also, patience and flexibility with the time it took to implement change were key. Melnyk (2015) says that even in the best-case scenario, it can take years to implement a practice change. I learned this lesson when attempting to implement bedside shift reports in the ER. That change began when I was new to that ER, and by the end of my two and half years there, bedside shift report was part of regular practice.
EBP Dissemination Strategies
Evidence based practice has the potential of improving patient care if the stakeholders are well informed and are receptive to the changes, this is emphasized well by Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt (2018), when healthcare providers use research and evidence based-practice to guide patient care as opposed to tradition and outdated hospital policies and guidelines, patients tend to get the best care. Being able to disseminate and ensure that all healthcare providers are on the same page with the latest EBP is what makes the big difference. Some dissemination strategies tend to work better than others and, in this discussion, I am going to dwell on both.
Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use Dissemination Strategies
I will use an example of implementing a new fall assessment tool to an organization. A combination of system wide emails and daily hurdles done by unit managers and charge nurses to disseminate the new fall assessment tool, this can further be reinforced by having training modules assigned to each staff with room for staff to meet with educators to illustrate or answer any questions that staff may have.
The strategy that I will not likely use is just posting the new assessment tool on the company website alone expecting staff to be able to discover and read with no room for in person clarification.
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies
Depending on the size of the organization, some staff members work off shift schedules or are part time and do not get to benefit from daily hurdles especially due to their brief nature or the time they are done. Sometimes lack of good leadership as within organizations requires strong infrastructure, including nursing leadership and human and material resource
Overcoming Identified Barriers
To overcome some of the barriers, organization leaders need to engage in better communication strategies, collaborate with staff members, identify that human is to err but patient safety is paramount. Melnyk. (2012). To effectively disseminate EBP requires, strong infrastructure, including nursing leadership and human and material resource. For healthcare organizations to change and embrace EBP, they nature the culture of EBP and have mentors who can help guide the rest of staff in navigating and embracing EBP. (Melnyk et al, 2011).
It is important that one shares their findings from evidence based practice (EBP) research, with the rest of the scientific and medical community. Sharing and disseminating one’s research findings should go beyond just publishing in peer-reviewed journals (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). The practitioner should have a strategy to disseminate their research findings. One effective strategy may include conducting workshops and trainings to demonstrate this new research finding. These training workshops are most effective for research findings that can be contrasted with previous methodologies and can be proven to be more effective in clinical practice (Ross-Hellauer et al., 2020). In addition, leaders in the field specific to one’s research findings, should be invited to participate in these workshop training sessions. Another effective strategy is to present one’s research findings at a national conference, frequented by leaders in the field. Demonstrating one’s findings by presenting, as a speaker or in a poster presentation, at conferences can be very fruitful. Leaders in the field specific to one’s findings, may decide to adopt and utilize such EBP findings in their own organization and clinical practice. In addition, when other practitioners integrate the EBP findings in their respective organization and clinical practice, this will amplify the dissemination of EBP research findings, as the new findings are passed on to other colleagues.
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is used in clinical settings and occurs when a solution needs to be found concerning a clinical based issue; EBP can also be used for educational research and teaching. EBP goal is to use scientific evidence along with hands on evidence to find the best solution (Newhouse et al., 2007, p. 556).
One of the many things I like to see when I’m working at a hospital and on a particular unit is what they’ve done to improve their patient care and the patients’ experience. One strategy that I like the most that I see throughout hospitals are posters displayed throughout the unit (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018) There’s usually a bulletin board with a specific evidence-based topic, for example, foley care and preventing uti’s, Etc. Sometimes this is a unit-based activity or even done by a committee, to put these posters together; And sometimes these posters these bulletin boards are put together by new graduates joining the floor just so they can get an understanding on how to prevent certain things and how evidence-based practice is established, which I think is a great idea. I don’t really see any barriers to this strategy, although I do think this should be something that’s done for all staff not just new grads. I know different hospitals do things differently but my hospital in particular these bullets and boards and posters are mainly done by the new grads coming on to the floor.
Another strategy that I like is the use of committees, in my hospital we have a fall prevention committee and just different types of committees surrounding patient care and concerning staff/ workplace issues like diversity and bullying. Meetings are held on a weekly or biweekly basis to talk about issues that have happened that week or within that time frame, the issue is then investigated to see what we could have done better things that we need to work on how we can provide safety for patients and staff etc., and then kind of decisions are made based on the best suggestions that we’ve come up with. A barrier to this would be that this is more suggestive, and objective based on people within the committee, everyone’s input is it involved and it isn’t necessarily evidence based practice, it can be research based but sometimes it isn’t.
Lastly one of my favorite strategies to use to disseminate info quickly are the use of morning huddles (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). Typically, at my main hospital huddles are only done during change of shift at 6:00 AM, that way night shift and day shift get the same information and it’s not done twice unless something critical pops up. The use of daily huddles allows staff to know and understand what’s happening throughout the unit on that particular day. Some of the things we usually review during daily huddle are number of falls if any, how many days we’ve gone without falls, new policies and procedures that are effective, mandatory education that needs to be competed, if JACHO is coming (lol), critical patients’, critical lab values on certain patients’, what patients to look out for if they are a flight risk or combative, number of staff that’s on the unit that day, who the resource is, and any other pertinent information that is needed. A barrier to this would be it’s only limited to the staff that joins the huddles unfortunately sometimes everyone isn’t able to make it to the huddle due to various reasons such as them being in their room with their patient etc.
EBP Dissemination Strategies
Evidence-based practice has proven to be the most effective way to provide quality care to patients and improve patient outcomes (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). This is an essential factor in improving care. It has become how healthcare professionals worldwide practice medicine based on evidence-based research that supports how care is used. Research to find the most valid evidence to change how patients benefit. As medical professionals, it is up to us to keep this evidence up-to-date to provide and educate our patients about the best possible care.
Most Likely to Use
To provide the best care, we must continue to educate about what is proven. Teaching others is also helpful. Assuming people don’t know where the available resources are, they don’t know what to look for. We have to be there. We must teach evidence-based practices to others and help spread the knowledge gained after that. There are many strategies to disseminate EBP to others, but I am looking for ways to reach more people simultaneously. Nowadays, technology, especially social media, has become very pervasive. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have billions of users, making them popular research sites (Cooper, 2014). You can submit your EBP, videos, photos, and resource information to spread the word about evidence-based practice and how to find and apply best practices. Another EBP Dissemination Strategies is to create and use PowerPoint live. Presentations because I love PowerPoint. Presentations can be made at the organizational, regional, or national level. In PowerPoint presentations, you can find out how to get people’s attention through the content of the slides and group participation. Some people (myself included) have trouble learning by listening to someone talk, but seeing something and even how to join a group might help you figure it out.
Least Likely to Use
Different learning styles should be considered and explored when teaching others, as everyone learns in different ways. The best way to reach more people is to incorporate as many learning styles as possible into your teaching methods. One strategy I do not use is handouts or presentations that contain much material. Printed materials are the primary method of communicating important information about EBP (Williams, Casada-Castro, Dusablon, & Stipa, 2016). People lose focus when the speaker talks too much or the content is long. Studies show that most people can concentrate for 20 minutes when learning something new or difficult to remember. Another strategy I have been unable to use is to present on podiums at the regional and national levels. I do not mind speaking in front of a small group, but when it comes to a large group, I tend to get nervous and say “hmm” a lot or speak quickly and breathlessly. I’m nervous; many people will find it challenging to learn from me.
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies
Barriers that may be encountered when using PowerPoint presentations or social media are that technology is not perfect. Systems can crash, electronic devices fail, accounts get hacked, and presentations accidentally deleted. Social media use attracts younger age groups. They may not care or be ready to learn the evidence or what I have to say and teach. Prepare your presentations and information materials to engage all ages and learning styles, and have a backup plan in case the unexpected happens.
EBP Dissemination Strategies
Most Inclined and Least Likely to Use
Healthcare is constantly changing. With this change, nurses must be provided with the tools and environment to adapt to this change to continually provide safe and efficient patient care (Melnyk & Overholt, 2018). Healthcare leaders function each day with the ultimate goal of not causing harm to the sick, thus, ensuring that the care provided is supported by current and tested evidence (Caramanica & Gallagher-Ford, n.d.). The evidence-based practice fosters better patient outcomes and nursing autonomy. Thus, this new information should be available to all clinicians (Newhouse et al., 2007). However, providing information alone will not ensure clinician’s to use EBP (Melnyk et al., 2011). In the dissemination strategy, I will most likely use evidence-based poster presentations. According to Melnyk & Overholt (2018), information about your work is prioritized in posters. Additionally, signs are displayed longer, which will give more time for interaction with colleagues and are less intimidating. Moreover, additional information may be provided through handouts.
Another strategy I prefer is media. Due to increased popularity, this may find funding for future research. Additionally, it is a means to attract the most qualified individuals to work for your institution. Most importantly, increased funding means increased student jobs and further change in public health (Melnyk & Overholt, 2018).
I will least likely use panel presentations and round table presentations. Although panel presentations are advantageous in that clinicians with different backgrounds can share knowledge, it takes a knowledgeable panelist and moderator to make them successful (Melnyk & Overholt, 2018). It needs more work organizing and briefing panelists. On the other hand, round table presentations allow a common topic for discussion and practical application. However, one must consider environment in which round table presentations will take place as too crowded space will cause delays(Melnyk & Overholt, 2018).
Potential Barriers to Inclined Dissemination Strategies/ Overcoming Identified Barriers
According to to Melnyk & Overholt (2018), poster needs to be built to catch the attention of the audience. If poorly designed, this will lead to poor format, information too much or not enough. To overcome this, one must learn how to present information that is concise making sure that the information stays relevant. In addition, presenters are expected to be beside the poster to answer questions from participants. However, scheduling the schedule for which the presenter is at the poster may help this issue so much so that interested participants will come together in a specific time. On the other hand, disadvantage of using media will be information overload for those who encounter it. To overcome this, one must make sure that information is clear and easy to understand. Melnyk & Overholt (2018) mentioned that one must use short sentences , and key messages should be summarized.