title: Bringing values back into evidence-based nursing: the role of patients in resisting empiricism.
abstract: We examine problems resulting from the narrow empirical focus associated with evidence-based nursing, including the deleterious influence of vested interests, disattention to patients' experiences, underestimation of the importance of social processes, lack of an individualized research perspective, marginalization of other forms of knowledge, and the undermining of patients' autonomy. Addressing each problem in turn, we argue that inclusion of patients at all stages of evidence-based practice can counter or ameliorate these problems. While we concede that patient involvement is not a complete solution to the problem of empiricism, it is the most effective means available to defend nursing values.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. s.porter@qub.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Halloran
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morrow
mesh_terms: D036262:Empirical Research; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D009014:Morals; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000941:ethics*; D010358:Patient Participation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012945:Social Values; D006113:United Kingdom