Journal of evaluation in clinical practice
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Occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) programs in Canada have moved to graduate-level entry education to address graduates' readiness for evidence-based practice (EBP). Whether rehabilitation professionals with advanced training in EBP are meeting their responsibilities as evidence-based professionals upon entry into practice and the factors that influence the use of evidence is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the individual and organizational factors associated with the use of EBP and supporting evidence-based activities among graduates of professional OT and PT master's programs. ⋯ Despite a greater focus on EBP knowledge in these curricula across Canada, knowledge was not related to EBP use nor evidence-based activities upon entry into practice. On the other hand, attitudes, confidence and working in private practice were. University programs should consider curricular strategies that increase the use of EBP, provide opportunities to engage in evidence-based activities with an emphasis on promoting the development of positive attitudes towards EBP and increasing learners' confidence in their ability to be evidence-based professionals.
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Pressure ulcers may have severe impacts on the quality of life of patients, including pain, low mood and restrictions in performing daily life and social life activities. In Switzerland, 4% of patients develop hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. Six hospitals teamed up with the Vaud Hospital Federation (Switzerland) in a Breakthrough Collaborative, with the goal of reducing hospital-acquired pressure ulcers by 50%. The aim of this study was to assess the actual reduction. ⋯ The Breakthrough Collaborative using a multimodal improvement approach combined with measurement and feedback was associated with a statistically and clinically significant improvement in compliance to best practice and with a reduction of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers by half.
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To utilize lean six sigma (LSS) and failure model and effect analysis (FMEA) to prevent dispensing errors in a Chinese teaching hospital. ⋯ The combination of LSS and the FMEA tool can be an efficient approach for helping reduce MEs in pharmacy dispensing.
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Evidence-based practice (EBP) can improve health care in underprivileged countries. Bolivia's EBP movement is nascent and the factors contributing to better implementation in nursing are unknown. ⋯ There is a dearth of EBP knowledge among Bolivian nurses stemming from a lack of preparation in EBP environments, including EBP training opportunities. This situation affects nurses' professional dimensions of relational work, power, and collaboration. Collaborative research among educators, professional nursing societies, and local and international organizations could provide initiatives for implementing EBP, based on local health profiles.
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Clinical reasoning in general practice is increasingly challenging because of the rise in the number of patients with multimorbidity. This creates uncertainty because of unpredictable interactions between the symptoms from multiple medical problems and the patient's personality, psychosocial context and life history. ⋯ Application of "systems thinking" tools such as causal loop diagrams allows the patient's problems to be viewed holistically and facilitates understanding of the complex interactions. We will show how complexity levels can be graded in clinical reasoning and demonstrate where and how systems thinking can have added value by means of a case history.