Posted: October 20th, 2022

Patients Value and Clinical Judgement in Evidence-based Interventions

Patients Value and Clinical Judgement in Evidence-based Interventions

Evidence-based practice is a trend that is developing recently in the clinical nursing field. Evidence-based practice involves the collection, analyzing information, and trying to implement the research findings and conclusions. According to Haber & LoBiondo- Wood (2017) medical experts have targeted Evidence-based practice mainly to change the clinical field and improve its working environment. Health workers believe that Evidence-based will improve the quality of health care and become more efficient. However, before implementing the Evidence-based interventions, it is important to consider the patients’ values and clinical judgment.
One reason why nurses need to consider a patient’s value and clinical judgment is that failure to engage the patient can reduce the patient’s treatment options to just medical evidence. Nurses require patient’s value and clinical judgment in shaping how they will apply the evidence to an individual patient (Kirkhus, Benth, Rostoft, Grønberg, Hjermstad, Selbæk & Jordhøy, 2017). Therefore, to prevent this reduction approach, nurses need to incorporate patient’s preferences and perceptions. In some cases, the nurses may not have enough evidence and in such a case, the patient’s perspective is essential to prevent paternalism.
Another reason why nurses need to include patient’s values and clinical judgment concerns instances where nurses apply evidence-based practice in patient-centered care. In patient-centered treatment, medical practitioners focus on the patient’s experience concerning the illness (Jarrar, Minai, Al‐Bsheish, Meri & Jaber, 2019). Focusing on the patient’s experience means that medical practitioners will apply the decisions made by the patient depending on the patient’s values and preferences.
Another reason why health practitioners need to consider a patient’s value and judgment is that some patients may feel that the nurses are violating their privacy. Evidence-based practice entails detailed research where the nurses will need to gather more information concerning patients’ personal life (Kirkhus, Benth, Rostoft, Grønberg, Hjermstad, Selbæk & Jordhøy, 2017). In such instances, patients may feel uncomfortable sharing their private life. However, nurse practitioners can overcome this challenge where patients feel that the nurses are interfering with their private life. The best way to overcome this challenge is for nurses need to first build trust with the patient before involving them in evidence-based research.

References
Jarrar, M. T., Minai, M. S., Al‐Bsheish, M., Meri, A., & Jaber, M. (2019). Hospital nurse shift length, patient‐centered care, and the perceived quality and patient safety. The International journal of health planning and management, 34(1), e387-e396.
Kirkhus, L., Benth, J. Š., Rostoft, S., Grønberg, B. H., Hjermstad, M. J., Selbæk, G., … & Jordhøy, M. S. (2017). Geriatric assessment is superior to oncologists’ clinical judgment in identifying frailty. British journal of cancer, 117(4), 470-477.
LoBiondo- Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2017). Nursing research-e-book: methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.