Mapping allied health evidence-based practice: providing a basis for organisational realignment

Abstract

Objective Ahead of the convergence of two major paediatric services, we examined evidence-based practice (EBP) self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, knowledge and use among allied health (AH) staff in two major Queensland (Qld) paediatric services. This was to determine whether any differences existed based on organisational affiliation, profession and any previous training to inform a strategy to enhance AH EBP within the new organisational setting. Methods All AH staff from the two Brisbane (Qld) tertiary paediatric hospitals were invited to participate in the survey. Using a cross-sectional design, EBP self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, knowledge and use, as well as previous EBP training, were assessed with an online survey. Background demographic information obtained included professional discipline and hospital. Results One hundred and thirty-eight health practitioners completed the survey (37% response rate). Most practitioners had accessed EBP training. Mean scores for EBP attitudes (self-efficacy and outcome expectancy) and knowledge were higher than for EBP use scores. Greater variation was observed across professional disciplines than organisations. Training impacted positively on EBP measures but explained a small proportion of total variance in regression models. Conclusions The results underscore the need to provide organisational supports to AH staff for EBP implementation. Strategies other than training are required to maximally enhance EBP attitudes. The new organisational structure provides an opportunity for this cultural shift to occur. What is known about the topic? Factors affecting the EBP capabilities of AH professionals are complex and are associated with institutional culture and barriers, personal self-belief and individual experience and ability, and can exist at clinician, team and organisational levels. What does this paper add? The data from the present study confirm the emerging literature examining various AH professional groups’ EBP behaviours and ratings with a large and diverse cohort from a variety of backgrounds and across organisations. Respondents possessed a positive attitude towards EBP and moderate EBP knowledge, with these scores exceeding EBP use scores. Organisational affiliation had little impact on EBP measures. What are the implications for practitioners? Although the results of the present study highlight the importance of training in literature searching, EBP and research design and/or analysis, the findings also indicated that strategies other than training are required to maximally enhance EBP attitudes and use by AH staff. To harness the positive approach AH staff have to EBP, strategies such as incorporation of EBP principles and plans in departmental meetings and strategic reviews, as well as strengthening organisational governance in relation to EBP and research, must be developed within the new organisational structure and context; a powerful, but often overlooked, enabler of EBP.

Assessment of Attitudes, Skills and Source of Knowledge on Utilization of EBP Among Registered Nurses in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China

“…Furthermore, the study from Australia is also in agreement with this finding [47] in which most respondents rated low level of their skill (self-efficacy) in performing deferent EBP activities. Besides, Kang, Y. and I.-S. Yang 2016, in their study explained that the implementation of evidence based practice was only 17.1%.…”

Key factors influencing allied health research capacity in a large Australian metropolitan health district

“… 34 Such a culture is believed to influence the adoption of research initiatives and behaviors of individual allied health professionals employed within the organization. 12 , 30 , 35 Ensuring that research is explicitly cited in the strategic plan and mission statements of the organization 12 , 36 – 38 is a strategy that may foster a research culture by demonstrating that research is highly valued and integral to the work of the organization. The other key factor identified in the organization domain was research infrastructure available to support research.…”

Strengthening the allied health workforce: policy, practice and research issues and opportunities

“…While compliance with evidence-based practice is a given, Ziviani et al 13 provide insights from a survey of allied health staff to propose new organisational structures that are required to enhance evidence-based practice by allied health practitioners.…”