Article type
Abstract
Background: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) integrates the best available scientific evidence with patient preferences and clinical expertise when making health decisions. This is considered a core competency for healthcare workers. Hospitals and other healthcare organizations need to enable healthcare professionals to incorporate EBM in daily practice, to ensure high quality of care and patient safety. A sustained integration of EBM on every organizational level is difficult to achieve. It requires a continuous process of evaluation, followed by recognizing areas for improvement and the development or modification of improvement strategies. Despite the vast amount of literature on EBM, there is no single overview or guidance for the entire process of implementation of EBM at an organizational level (e.g. hospital setting).
Objectives: to provide recommendations for the various steps of the implementation process of EBM in a hospital setting.
Methods: We performed an overview of reviews. MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL were searched for reviews on the implementation process of EBM in hospital settings, published from 2013 to 2023. The included reviews’ characteristics and results regarding EBM implementation on the organizational level were extracted. These results will be mapped onto the implementation process steps, according to Wensing, Grol and Grimshaw (2020).
Results: The search yielded 8726 records, of which 156 records were screened on full text. We expect to include approximately 80-100 reviews. Characteristics of the included reviews such as the review type, number of included studies, and the professionals and settings involved, will be described. We will present results regarding barriers and facilitators for EBM, (effectiveness of) implementation strategies and evaluation of EBM implementation.
Conclusions: Many reviews have been published on the various steps in the implementation process of EBM. Implementation appears to be complex due to the different organizational levels at stake. This overview of reviews provides comprehensive guidance for EBM implementation within hospitals.
Relevance and importance to the patients: The results of this review guide hospitals in implementation of EBM facilitating high quality of care and patient safety. The implementation of EBM into hospitals is a prerequisite for good health decision-making that involves both patients and professionals.
Objectives: to provide recommendations for the various steps of the implementation process of EBM in a hospital setting.
Methods: We performed an overview of reviews. MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL were searched for reviews on the implementation process of EBM in hospital settings, published from 2013 to 2023. The included reviews’ characteristics and results regarding EBM implementation on the organizational level were extracted. These results will be mapped onto the implementation process steps, according to Wensing, Grol and Grimshaw (2020).
Results: The search yielded 8726 records, of which 156 records were screened on full text. We expect to include approximately 80-100 reviews. Characteristics of the included reviews such as the review type, number of included studies, and the professionals and settings involved, will be described. We will present results regarding barriers and facilitators for EBM, (effectiveness of) implementation strategies and evaluation of EBM implementation.
Conclusions: Many reviews have been published on the various steps in the implementation process of EBM. Implementation appears to be complex due to the different organizational levels at stake. This overview of reviews provides comprehensive guidance for EBM implementation within hospitals.
Relevance and importance to the patients: The results of this review guide hospitals in implementation of EBM facilitating high quality of care and patient safety. The implementation of EBM into hospitals is a prerequisite for good health decision-making that involves both patients and professionals.