Tool Kits for Evidence-Based Practice

In order to fulfil clinical governance requirements, all staff require accessible information tailored to their area of practice. Many frontline staff do not have the time, confidence, skills or knowledge to learn about and implement evidence-based practice or to search for information. The Bradford Health Informatics Service Library wanted to make specialty specific evidence-based information readily available in all areas of practice. A resource pack was produced to meet these identified needs.

The Tool Kits for Evidence-Based Practice have been provided for primary and secondary care, higher education libraries and hospices. The content is also available on Trust Intranet sites. In undertaking this project, we hoped to achieve the following:

  • A resource, easily accessible to all health care staff.
  • Increase awareness of traditional and electronic evidence-based practice resources available.
  • Increase staff confidence in using information and their ability to question practice and link it to delivery of care.
  • Promote use and understanding of the Intranet/Internet.
  • Inform staff of key points of contact internally and externally who could help with further development of evidence-based practice and research.
  • Ensure care provided is always based on best evidence.

Evaluation of the project within acute trusts has shown that staff are aware of the tool kit and, in most cases they are placed near a computer where all staff have access to them. In some areas the tool kits are used at induction. The introduction of the tool kits has led to an increase in requests for information from the libraries. This is an ongoing project and the updating of the tool kits is time consuming and it is hoped departments will be able to update their own tool kits from the intranet version. Further evaluation of the project is planned over the next few months.