title: Developing evidence-informed decision making in a hospice: an evaluation of organisational readiness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiprofessional home care and hospice teams should play a part in evidence-informed decision making.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess organisational readiness to adopt evidence-informed decision making in a hospice in England.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed-methods approach was used. Clinical staff were surveyed regarding their attitudes to and skills in using evidence, and senior managers completed an organisation-based self-assessment tool recording the readiness of the organisation to embrace an evidence-informed focus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  81% of the staff completed the survey. Staff were committed to the principles of evidence-informed decision making, but overall lacked the necessary knowledge and skills. Information obtained from the management self-assessment highlighted that a priority was to develop an evidence-informed decision-making culture focusing on education, training, and policy development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The process used in this evaluation may be applicable to other areas of health care when assessing an organisation's readiness to incorporate evidence-informed decision making into policy and procedure.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Education and Society, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, England.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006738:Hospices / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans