Evidence-Based Practice in Medication Errors

how can I tell if something is evidence based practice? are there key words?

Before you complete the instructions detailed in the courseroom, first select one of the following health care problems or issues:

Medication Errors

o Description: A medication error is a preventable adverse effect of a patient taking the wrong medication or dosage, whether or not it is evident or harmful to the patient. Medication errors can be a source of serious patient harm, including death.

o Interventions: Electronic prescribing, pharmacist reviews, patient education.

o Keywords: Adverse drug events, medication reconciliation, patient safety, medication administration, medication errors, medication safety.

Summarize the health care problem or issue.

• Describe the professional relevance of this topic.
• Describe any professional experience you have with this topic.

1. Identify peer-reviewed articles relevant to this health care issue or problem.

• Conduct a search for scholarly or academic peer-reviewed literature related to the topic and describe the criteria you used to search for articles, including the names of the databases you used. You will select four current scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles published during the past 3–5 years that relate to your topic.
• Use keywords related to the health care problem or issue you are researching to select relevant articles.

1. Assess the credibility and explain relevance of the information sources you find.

• Determine if the source is from an academic peer-reviewed journal.
• Determine if the publication is current.
• Determine if information in the academic peer-reviewed journal article is still relevant.

1. Analyze academic peer-reviewed journal articles using the annotated bibliography organizational format. Provide a rationale for inclusion of each selected article. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to document a list of references along with key information about each one. The detail about the reference is the annotation. Developing this annotated bibliography will create a foundation of knowledge about the selected topic. In your annotated bibliography:

• Identify the purpose of the article.
• Summarize the information.
• Provide rationale for inclusion of each article.
• Include the conclusions and findings of the article.
• Write your annotated bibliography in a paragraph form. The annotated bibliography should be approximately 150 words (1–3 paragraphs) in length.
• List the full reference for the source in APA format (author, date, title, publisher, et cetera) and use APA format for the annotated bibliography.
• Make sure the references are listed in alphabetical order, are double-spaced, and use hanging indents.

1. Summarize what you have learned while developing an annotated bibliography.

• Summarize what you learned from your research in a separate paragraph or two at the end of the paper.
• List the main points you learned from your research.
• Summarize the main contributions of the sources you chose and how they enhanced your knowledge about the topic.
• Length: 3–5 typed, double-spaced pages, not including the title page and reference page.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• APA tutorial: Use the APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] for guidance.

Title: Identifying Evidence-Based Practice in Healthcare: A Case Study on Medication Errors

Introduction: In modern healthcare, evidence-based practice (EBP) serves as a cornerstone for informed decision-making and improving patient outcomes. Recognizing EBP is crucial, especially when addressing critical issues such as medication errors. This essay outlines strategies to identify EBP, utilizing the example of medication errors, and demonstrates how to evaluate and synthesize peer-reviewed literature effectively.

Identifying Evidence-Based Practice:

1. Keywords: Utilizing specific keywords related to the healthcare problem or issue is paramount. In the case of medication errors, terms like “adverse drug events,” “medication reconciliation,” and “patient safety” are indicative of EBP.
2. Peer-Reviewed Sources: EBP is often found in peer-reviewed journals where research undergoes rigorous evaluation by experts in the field. Ensure that selected articles are published in reputable journals.
3. Current Research: EBP evolves with new research and findings. Hence, prioritize recent publications, typically within the last 3-5 years, to ensure relevance and currency.
4. Professional Relevance and Experience: Consider your professional relevance and experience with the topic. Personal insights and experiences can aid in discerning the applicability and significance of the research findings.

Search and Evaluation Process:

1. Search Criteria: Utilize databases like PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Search criteria should include combinations of keywords and filters such as publication date and study type to refine results.
2. Assessing Credibility: Evaluate the credibility of sources by examining the author’s credentials, affiliations, and publication history. Additionally, scrutinize methodology, results, and citations for robustness and reliability.

Annotated Bibliography:

1. Purpose: Each selected article’s purpose should align with addressing medication errors through interventions like electronic prescribing or patient education.
2. Summary: Summarize key information including study objectives, methods, findings, and implications for practice.
3. Rationale for Inclusion: Justify the selection of each article based on its relevance, methodological rigor, and contribution to understanding medication errors and interventions.
4. Conclusions and Findings: Highlight the conclusions and findings of each article, emphasizing how they contribute to the body of knowledge on medication errors.

Conclusion: Through meticulous search strategies, critical appraisal, and synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, identifying evidence-based practice becomes feasible. This process fosters a deeper understanding of healthcare issues such as medication errors and empowers healthcare professionals to make informed decisions, ultimately improving patient care and safety.

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