Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal: Evaluation Plan Paper

Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal: Evaluation Plan Paper

Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal: Evaluation Plan Paper

EBP projects require commitment, time, and facilitation with appropriate resources. Since the main objective is to change processes for better outcomes, project (leaders) proposers should be certain that the project achieves the targeted outcomes. Else, gaps should be identified early and addressed appropriately. As a result, project leaders should have elaborate implementation and evaluation plans. The evaluation plan outlines the metrics, tools, and instruments to determine whether the EBP project is successful. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the project proposal’s evaluation plan.

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Expected Outcomes

The proposed EBP project is fall assessment upon triage instead of during evaluation by the primary nurse or provider. The early assessment is expected to reduce falls among the elderly patients in the ED; they are at high risk due to their advancing age and deteriorating physical and mental health. Early assessment will facilitate timely intervention and reduce the cost of falls and other problems. Current research indicates that approximately 30% of elderly adults experience falls annually, leading to injuries, difficulties with mobility, extended hospital stays, and challenges with independent living (Gettel & Goldberg, 2020; Shankar et al., 2020). Patient falls are among the most costly problems experienced in the ED. According to Gettel and Goldberg (2020), fall-related medical cost is as high as $31.3 billion in the United States. Worse, it is expected to increase as time progresses. The implication is that reducing falls will also improve injuries, hospital stay, and medical costs, improving patients’ and populations’ health.

Data Collection Tools

As explained in the implementation plan, the most appropriate research design for the project proposal is the quantitative approach. It provides numerical data, making it easy to make predictions and test relationships (Almeida, 2018). Project leaders can use various tools for quantitative research, including questionnaires/surveys, quantitative observations, quantitative interviews, case studies, and document reviews (secondary data collection). Quantitative research design produces accurate, detailed, and insightful data that can be analyzed easily. Surveys are the most common, and interviews are appropriate for in-person data collection (Chong et al., 2021; DeJonckheere & Vaughn, 2019). Document review is ideal when gathering data from clinical records.

Questionnaires would have been the most appropriate choice from these tools if close-ended responses from nurses and patients were needed. They can help gather information on the characteristics and opinions of the proposed intervention. However, the most needed data is the number of patient falls after the project is implemented. This data can be easily obtained from clinical records; hence, document review is the most appropriate choice. Document review is valid since the data from clinical records is from all patients. The sample size includes all the subjects. It is a reliable tool since data is readily available and accurate. The tool is highly applicable since it contains the exact data needed to evaluate the project and make accurate inferences.

Statistical Test

Correlations between numerical variables or hypothesis testing are appropriate statistical tests. Hypothesis testing is the best-suited test for the project. According to Shreffler and Huecker (2022), hypothesis testing involves testing assumptions about a population’s parameter. It will be used to assess the plausibility of the assumption that fall assessment upon triage reduces patient falls among elderly patients visiting the ED.

Methods to Apply to Measure and Evaluate Outcomes

Patient falls are recorded daily in the ED. From the records, a comparative analysis of the change over time will be conducted to determine whether implementing the project led to a significant change in patient falls. A statistically significant decline in falls is expected after six months. A progressive quantitative decline will accurately measure the project’s outcome/success. Therefore, the evaluation is a numerical analysis of the data.

Intervention Strategies for Negative Results

Change agents always look forward to successful EBP projects. Since success is not guaranteed, they should have further interventions in mind. If outcomes do not provide positive results, a gap analysis will be conducted to examine the changes needed to achieve the desired results. The other strategy is to entirely change the method (fall assessment upon triage). The implication is that other EBP strategies can be implemented to reduce falls apart from the proposed method.

Maintaining, Extending, Revising, and Discontinuing the Proposed Solution

Based on various factors, the proposed solution will be maintained, extended, revised, and discontinued. It should be maintained if it leads to a significant decline in patient falls. It should be extended if the desired results have not been achieved, but there is positive progress after evaluation. A revision is necessary if there are visible gaps hampering outcomes. The project will be discontinued if it does not provide the projected outcomes. Eventualities such as lack of resources can also lead to discontinuation.

Conclusion

After implementation, project leaders should evaluate the proposed projects to assess whether they achieved the targeted results. The evaluation can be quantitative, qualitative, or a mixed-methods approach. As discussed in this paper, the evaluation will be quantitative, primarily through comparative data analysis of clinical records. The expected outcome is a statistically significant decline in elderly patients’ falls after the project’s implementation.

References

Almeida, F. (2018). Strategies to perform a mixed methods study. European Journal of Education Studies, 5(1), 137-151. http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1406214

Chong, D., Jawahir, S., Tan, E. H., & Sararaks, S. (2021). Redesigning a Healthcare demand questionnaire for national population survey: experience of a developing country. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9), 4435. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094435

DeJonckheere, M., & Vaughn, L. M. (2019). Semistructured interviewing in primary care research: A balance of relationship and rigour. Family Medicine and Community Health, 7(2), 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2018-000057

Gettel, C. J., & Goldberg, E. M. (2020). Fall prevention intervention in the emergency department for older adults. Journal of Aging Science, 8(1), 222. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7386420/

Shankar, K. N., Lin, F., Epino, H., Temin, E., & Liu, S. (2020). Emergency department falls: a longitudinal analysis of revisits and hospitalisations between patients who fall and patients who did not fall. BMJ Open, 10(12), e041054. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041054

Shreffler, J., & Huecker, M. R. (2022). Hypothesis testing, P values, confidence intervals, and       significance. StatPearls Publishing.

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In 750-1,000 words, develop an evaluation plan to be included in your final evidence-based practice project proposal. You will use the evaluation plan in the Topic 8 assignment, during which you will synthesize the various aspects of your project into a final paper detailing your evidence-based practice project proposal.

Provide the following criteria in the evaluation, making sure it is comprehensive and concise:

Discuss the expected outcomes for your evidence-based practice project proposal.
Review the various data collection tools associated with your selected research design and select one data collection tool that would be effective for your research design. Explain how this tool is valid, reliable, and applicable.
Select a statistical test for your project and explain why it is best suited for the tool you choose.
Describe what methods you will apply to your data collection tool and how the outcomes will be measured and evaluated based on the tool you selected.
Propose strategies that will be taken if outcomes do not provide positive or expected results.
Describe the plans to maintain, extend, revise, and discontinue a proposed solution after implementation.
Refer to the “Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal – Assignment Overview” document for an overview of the evidence-based practice project proposal assignments.

You are required to cite a minimum of five peer-reviewed sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.