Posted: April 29th, 2018

Use of Healthcare Information Technology to support evidence-based practice in nursing

Use of Healthcare Information Technology to support evidence-based practice in nursing

Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) is the use of digital tools and systems to collect, store, process, analyse, and communicate health-related data and information. HIT can support evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing, which is the integration of the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences and values in decision-making and care delivery. EBP can improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes, as well as reduce costs and variations in practice. However, many nurses face barriers to implementing EBP, such as lack of time, skills, resources, and organisational support. HIT can help overcome these barriers by facilitating access to relevant and reliable evidence, enhancing clinical reasoning and judgement, providing feedback and evaluation, and promoting collaboration and dissemination.

Some examples of HIT that can support EBP in nursing are:

– Electronic health records (EHRs): These are digital versions of patients’ medical histories, diagnoses, treatments, medications, allergies, test results, and other information. EHRs can improve the accuracy, completeness, and availability of patient data, as well as enable data sharing and interoperability among different healthcare providers and settings. EHRs can also support EBP by providing clinical decision support (CDS) systems, which are software applications that analyse patient data and provide alerts, reminders, guidelines, recommendations, or order sets to assist nurses in making evidence-based decisions. CDS systems can improve the quality and safety of care by reducing errors, adverse events, variations, and unnecessary interventions. However, CDS systems should be designed with user input and feedback, tailored to the context and workflow of practice, integrated with EHRs and other HIT systems, and evaluated for their effectiveness and impact.
– Telehealth: This is the delivery of health services and information using telecommunications technologies, such as phone, internet, videoconferencing, mobile devices, or remote monitoring devices. Telehealth can expand access to care for patients who live in rural or remote areas, have mobility or transportation issues, or prefer convenience and flexibility. Telehealth can also support EBP by enabling nurses to provide remote consultation, education, coaching, triage, or follow-up to patients with chronic or complex conditions. Telehealth can also facilitate communication and collaboration among nurses and other healthcare professionals across different locations and settings. Telehealth can improve patient outcomes by enhancing self-management skills, adherence to treatment plans, satisfaction with care, and quality of life. However, telehealth should be implemented with consideration of ethical, legal, technical, organisational, and cultural issues.
– Mobile health (mHealth): This is the use of mobile devices (such as smartphones or tablets) and applications (such as health apps or wearable sensors) to deliver health services and information. mHealth can empower patients to monitor their own health status, symptoms, behaviours, or outcomes; access health education or advice; communicate with nurses or other healthcare providers; or participate in online communities or social networks. mHealth can also support EBP by enabling nurses to access evidence-based resources or guidelines; document or report patient data or events; receive alerts or feedback; or engage in continuing education or professional development. mHealth can improve patient outcomes by increasing health literacy; promoting healthy lifestyles; facilitating early detection or intervention; or enhancing patient engagement or empowerment. However,
mHealth should be implemented with consideration of data quality; security; privacy; usability; reliability; validity; effectiveness; cost-effectiveness; regulation; evaluation; or user acceptance.

In conclusion, HIT can support EBP in nursing by providing various tools and systems that can enhance the access to evidence; the application of evidence; the evaluation of evidence; and the dissemination of evidence. HIT can also improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes by improving the efficiency; effectiveness; safety; equity; timeliness; patient-centredness; or coordination of care. However,
HIT should be implemented with consideration of the needs; preferences; values; skills; roles; responsibilities; challenges; opportunities; or impacts of nurses; patients;
and other stakeholders.

References:

– Booth RG et al (2021) How the nursing profession should adapt for a digital future. BMJ 373: n1190. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1190
– Kumah EA et al (2022) write my essay Evidence-informed practice: simplifying
and applying the concept for nursing students
and academics. British Journal of Nursing 31(6). https://www.britishjournalofnursing.com/content/professional/evidence-informed-practice-simplifying-and-applying-the-concept-for-nursing-students-and-academics
– McBride S et al (2017) Improving Healthcare Quality
and Patient Outcomes Through the Integration
of Evidence-Based Practice
and Informatics. Nurse Key. https://nursekey.com/improving-healthcare-quality-and-patient-outcomes-through-the-integration-of-evidence-based-practice-and-informatics/

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