title: Keeping it real: evidence-based practice in home healthcare.
abstract: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a vital element of home health nursing. As healthcare becomes more costly, and more complex care is rendered in the home, the need for systematic inquiry to address the needs of clients and families is imperative. This essential systematic inquiry into nursing interventions and evaluation of clients' responses to those interventions may well transform the home health industry.The ultimate goal of nursing care is to optimize quality outcomes for patients, families, and populations, as well as healthcare providers and systems. Using a clinical case study, the authors discuss a step-by-step EBP process incorporating the nursing process from assessment of current practice to formulating a well-defined clinical question that addresses an identified problem through evaluation of the selected interventions effectiveness and efficacy.
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Nursing, Jackson Mississippi. USA. rwilliams@son.umsmed.edu
authors.forename: P Renée
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rachel
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winters
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Askew
mesh_terms: D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care