van den Hoogen A, Johnston L, Roehr CC, Panas M, Petty J, Schlembach D, Simeone N, Stoniene D, Tency I
Click on the image to read the standard in brief.
Target group
Infants, parents, and families
User group
Parents and families, healthcare professionals, neonatal units, hospitals, health services, and education providers
Statement of standard
Every healthcare professional caring for infants and their families delivers care based on the best available evidence, integrated with clinical expertise, available resources and the wishes of the family.
Rationale
Evidence-based practice (EBP) has emerged as an innovation in quality improvement in healthcare. In order to deliver safe and effective care, healthcare professionals underpin their practice with evidence in order to reduce inconsistencies, enhance effectiveness of care and improve outcomes for infants and their families. Through gaining access to, assessing, applying and integrating new knowledge, healthcare professionals can adapt to changing circumstances throughout their professional life. Curricula to deliver these aptitudes need to be grounded in the five-step model of EBP, and informed by ongoing research. (1,2)
Benefits
Facilitated individualisation of care (1,2)
Assured quality of healthcare (1,2)
Components of the standard
Component
Grading of evidence
Indicator of meeting the standard
For parents and family
Parents are informed about the contribution of evidence to clinical decision making, including evidence-based practice (EBP) and its limitations by healthcare professionals.
The principles of evidence-based practice (EBP), implementation of evidence-based policies and a critical attitude to personal practice are understood by all healthcare professionals. (2)
A (Moderate quality) B (High quality)
Training documentation
For neonatal unit
Educators, healthcare providers, and those in positions of leadership have appraisal skills commensurate with higher training and continued practice. (2)
A (Moderate quality) B (High quality)
Training documentation
All unit guidelines are evidence based and regularly updated.
B (High quality)
Guideline
For hospital
Training that supports EBP is ensured for educators, healthcare providers, and those in positions of leadership. (2)
B (High quality)
Training documentation
For health service
Easy access to electronic databases to support EBP is provided. (2)
B (High quality)
Training documentation
For education providers
Undergraduate and graduate curricula include the “five-step model” of EBP.
B (Moderate quality)
Training documentation
Parents are given the opportunity to review and revise curricula. (2)
B (Low quality)
Training documentation, parent feedback
1The indicator “patient information sheet” is an example for written, detailed information, in which digital solutions are included, such as web-based systems, apps, brochures, information leaflets, and booklets.
Where to go
Further development
Grading of evidence
For parents and family
N/A
For healthcare professionals
N/A
For neonatal unit
Provide access to and information about evidence-based practices presented in such a way that it can be understood by parents.
For hospital
N/A
For education providers
Foster research into the most effective and efficient methods for teaching each step, and link with ongoing systematic reviews on each step. (2)
A (Moderate quality) B (Moderate quality)
Getting started
Initial steps
For parents and family
Parents are informed about the contribution of evidence to clinical decision making, including evidence-based practice (EBP) and its limitations by healthcare professionals.
For healthcare professionals
Attend training that supports EBP.
Recognise and admit uncertainties in clinical practice (Step “0”).
For neonatal unit
Develop and implement evidence-based unit guidelines.
Develop information material on evidence-based practice for parents.
Support the routine use of previously appraised evidence in clinical practice.
For hospital
Support healthcare professionals to participate in training that supports evidence-based practice.
Support the routine use of previously appraised evidence in clinical practice
For health service
N/A
For education providers
Include EBP in core curricula of undergraduate programmes.
Farokhzadian J, Khajouei R, Ahmadian L. Evaluating factors associated with implementing evidence-based practice in nursing. J Eval Clin Pract. 2015 Dec;21(6):1107–13.
Dawes M, Summerskill W, Glasziou P, Cartabellotta A, Martin J, Hopayian K, et al. Sicily statement on evidence-based practice. BMC Med Educ. 2005 Jan 5;5(1):1.
Smith J, Swallow V, Coyne I. Involving parents in managing their child’s long-term condition-a concept synthesis of family-centered care and partnership-in-care. J Pediatr Nurs. 2015 Feb;30(1):143–59.
Kuo DZ, Houtrow AJ, Arango P, Kuhlthau KA, Simmons JM, Neff JM. Family-centered care: current applications and future directions in pediatric health care. Matern Child Health J. 2012 Feb;16(2):297–305.
November 2018 / 1st edition / next revision: 2023
Recommended citation
EFCNI, van den Hoogen A, Johnston L et al., European Standards of Care for Newborn Health: Evidence-based practice. 2018.
