A call for replication.
OBJECTIVE
To promote the use of replication as a means for strengthening knowledge for nursing practice.


METHODS
Examination of two clinical examples of how replication could strengthen nursing practice.


RESULTS
The first example had no research evidence to support the practice and the other was based on the findings of a single medical study. Both led to nursing practices that were not effective or efficient, although not harmful. Replication can be used to overcome design limitations, increase validity of findings, and bring about correction of error. In addition, potential barriers and solutions to increase replication were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Replication is a critical step in validating research to build evidence and to promote use of findings in practice.
Fahs
Pamela Stewart
PS
Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, State University of New York at Binghamton, Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA. psfahs@binghamton.edu
Morgan
Lindsay Lake
LL
Kalman
Melanie
M
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results