Moving evidence into action: How JBI Evidence Summaries drive change
Author: Kylie Porritt
JBI, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Australia.
Introduction
This year’s theme for World Evidence-Based Health care (EBHC) Day, "Health and beyond: From evidence to action," highlights the critical need for evidence to be seamlessly integrated into practice rather than existing in isolation. As both a nurse and an evidence synthesis methodologist, I recognize the transformative role that research plays in shaping how evidence is synthesized and integrated into health systems and practice. I am also aware of how the convergence of traditional research methodologies with technological innovations is revolutionizing our approach to evidence-based health care. My commitment as a health care professional is to ensure that trustworthy, actionable evidence is readily accessible to those who need it most. By driving this process, I aim to empower clinicians and improve health care delivery through reliable, evidence-based resources.
As the Director of Transfer Science at JBI, I lead a dedicated team who manage the JBI Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Database, a comprehensive resource designed to support health care professionals in making informed, evidence-based decisions. Central to this database are JBI Evidence Summaries, which synthesize the best available evidence into concise, actionable recommendations for clinical practice. These summaries represent an integration of scientific research and innovative communication strategies, leveraging both new and established methodologies. Our methodology ensures that these summaries are not only rigorously developed but also accessible and practical for use in real-world clinical settings. By translating complex research into clear guidance, we aim to bridge the gap between evidence and practice, ensuring that health care providers can access the best information and tools to deliver optimal patient care.
Understanding the JBI Evidence Summary Methodology
The JBI Evidence Summary Methodology is a structured and rigorous process that synthesizes and summarizes the best available evidence on a given topic. This methodology involves several critical steps:
1. Topic identification: Topics are identified based on clinical inquiries, expert recommendations, and relevance to current health care practices.
2. Systematic search and surveillance: A comprehensive literature search is conducted to identify relevant evidence. The selection process is guided by predefined criteria to ensure that only the best available evidence is included.
3. Quality assessment: Each study is appraised using the JBI critical appraisal tools to assess its validity, reliability, and applicability. This step ensures that the evidence is robust and trustworthy.
4. Summarising and presenting evidence: The findings from the selected studies are synthesized to provide a clear and concise summary of the evidence.
5. Peer review: The evidence summary undergoes a rigorous peer review process, including both internal and external reviews by experts in the field. This step ensures the accuracy and credibility of the summary.
6. Publication on the JBI EBP Database: Once peer-reviewed and finalized, the evidence summary is published on the JBI EBP Database. This ensures that health care professionals globally can access the latest, high-quality, evidence-based guidance in their field.
7. Continuous cycle of review and update: JBI Evidence Summaries are regularly reviewed and updated to maintain relevance and accuracy.
A key feature of this approach is the extensive partnerships with international clinical and academic experts, which ensures that the resources provided are both clinically relevant and appropriate. Spanning over 30 specialty areas, this rigorous framework allows health care professionals to access trustworthy and reliable evidence, empowering them to make informed decisions and enhance their practice.
How JBI Evidence Summaries drive change
JBI Evidence Summaries have been shown to drive tangible improvements in health care practice by:
- Supporting evidence-based decision-making and improving patient outcomes: The summaries provide practical guidance and recommendations that can be directly implemented in clinical settings. This approach bridges the gap between research and practice, ensuring that evidence is effectively utilized to enhance patient care. For instance, JBI Evidence Summaries have been used to improve cancer pain management in an adult oncology unit or prevent post-operative urinary retention. Further examples of how these resources are applied to improve patient care can be found in the JBI Evidence Implementation journal.
- Promoting continuous improvement: A JBI Evidence Summary is the foundation for developing evidence-based quality indicators that measure adherence to best practice. These quality indicators (also referred to as audit criteria) are embedded in the JBI PACES software, providing health care professionals with the resources and tools needed to monitor, evaluate, and improve practice.
- Facilitating education and training: JBI Evidence Summaries serve as an educational tool for health care providers worldwide. Examples include the Johns Hopkins Nurse Residency Program and the Foundation of Nursing Practice course at Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan.
- Informing policy and guidelines: JBI Evidence Summaries can influence health policies and clinical guidelines by providing policymakers with reliable, evidence-based information.
Through these mechanisms, JBI Evidence Summaries not only improve individual patient care but also contribute to systemic changes within health care environments, ultimately leading to better health outcomes on a larger scale.
Moving forward: The future of JBI Evidence Summaries
Looking ahead, it is essential to acknowledge the evolving nature of health care and the influence of emerging technologies on evidence dissemination. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics present unprecedented opportunities to streamline the integration of evidence into clinical workflows. These innovations enable health care professionals to access real-time, tailored information that enhances decision-making and patient care.
Brian Alper and Brian Haynes, in 2016, discussed how evidence-based information should ideally be seamlessly integrated into health systems and computerized decision-support systems. However, they noted that achieving this integration in a reliable and extensive way remains a challenge. FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) is helping to overcome this challenge by providing a standardized framework for exchanging information between systems. JBI Evidence Summaries are being aligned with FHIR to incorporate evidence-based information into clinical workflows. Whilst this project is in its early stages, this alignment makes it easier for health care professionals to retrieve and apply relevant, trustworthy information at the point of care. In this context, JBI Evidence Summaries will play a critical role in empowering health care professionals. By enhancing the accessibility of these summaries through alignment with both new technologies and existing systems, we can ensure their effective integration into everyday practice.
Conclusion and call to action
Leveraging technological and communication innovations is essential in ensuring that evidence is not only accessible but also integrated into clinical workflows. JBI Evidence Summaries play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between research and practice, empowering health care professionals with trustworthy, actionable, evidence-based recommendations that enhance patient care. To fully harness the benefits of these resources, I urge health care professionals, policymakers, and educators to actively engage with JBI Evidence Summaries and promote evidence-based practices within their organizations. By doing so, we can foster a culture that prioritizes reliable, evidence-driven decision-making, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes for patients and communities. Together, let’s commit to moving evidence into action and driving meaningful change in health care through informed practice and collaborative efforts.
Links to additional resources
https://jbi.global/jbi-ebp-database
Conflict of interest
Kylie Porritt is the Director of Transfer Science and the JBI EBP Database.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this World EBHC Day Blog, as well as any errors or omissions, are the sole responsibility of the author and do not represent the views of the World EBHC Day Steering Committee, Official Partners or Sponsors; nor does it imply endorsement by the aforementioned parties.
