Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal Evaluation Plan

Sample Answer

The evaluation of evidence-based practice (EBP) project proposal is essential in attaining its expected outcomes and meeting the set goals, timelines, and optimal use of allocated resources. The implementation of case management (CM) leads to reduced length of stay, emergency room visits, and lowers readmission rates among patients with chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension (Hudon et al., 2018). The purpose of this evaluation plan is to assess the expected outcomes from implementing case management EBP project, a review of data collection tools, selection of an optimal statistical test and methods to collect data and measure overall outcomes.

Expected Outcome of the EBP Project Proposal

The implementation of evidence-based project proposals is to enhance patient safety, quality of care, increase accessibility and ensure that chronically-ill patients can employ self-management approaches to attain better outcomes. The anticipated outcomes from this project include reducing the rate of readmissions in the facility, lowering emergency room visits through effective monitoring and use of health technologies like telehealth and telemedicine. The project will also reduce the length of stay for patients in the inpatient unit in the facility (Hudon et al., 2018). Further, the implementation of the intervention would be a best practice that will lead to quality care and a reduction in overall costs of managing chronically-ill patients.

Data Collection Tools Based on Research Design

The EBP project proposal will use a mixed method approach involving both qualitative and quantitative designs. The design is non-experimental and will allow the researcher to attain an in-depth or wider perspective to the research question. The project will use surveys and interviews to collect data through which the information gathered will inform the most effective intervention in managing chronically-ill patients. Using the mixed method will lead to a sequential approach to the gathering of data at various points of the implementation process (Halcomb, 2019).

The approach is appropriate as it will allow the researchers to integrate both qualitative and quantitative models at various points of the research. Collected data through interviews will contain original sentiments, perspectives and opinions of healthcare workers on the effectiveness of the suggested intervention. Surveys and interviews are valid, reliable and applicable since they will capture sentiments and perceptions before and after implementing the EBP intervention to assess overall effectiveness in the setting.

Statistical Test for the EBP Project

Statistical tests provide a framework for making effective decisions concerning particular aspects of study sample. Statistical tests evaluate the hypothesis about the importance of an observable sample. These tests aloe evaluate the association between certain predictable variables as well as outcome variables and estimate the variance between two or more entities (Rebekah & Ravindran, 2018).

In this case, the implementation of case management among chronically-ill patients will use regression tests which illustrate a cause-effect outlook. The project will deploy a mixed method approach to collect data from the participants. Regression test is the most effective tool for the project as it demonstrates the situation before and after the implementation of the EBP intervention.

Outcome Measures and Evaluation

Through analyzing the collected data, outcome measures and evaluation process will illustrate the overall effects of the project on targeted patients, nurse practitioners and the facility. The project will use experience surveys and questionnaire to generate feedback from all participants and develop appropriate measures to ascertain the effectiveness of the intervention to the patients, especially adherence to self-management (DeNisco, 2019). The implication is this implementation will lead to better self-management and allow patients to reduce visits and length of stay in the facility. The essence of this EBP project is to ensure that chronically-ill patients have better management of their conditions through the support and use of nurse-led case management approach.

These outcomes include a reduction in length of stays, reduced rates of readmissions, and limited severity and frequency of emergency room use or visits. However, if the outcomes fail to produce the anticipated results, the team will review different components that may have necessitated the failure and take corrective actions. For example, it may require the alteration of the mixed method approach, increased deployment of resources or ways to enhance efficiencies in monitoring to enable the project attain its expected outcomes.

Maintaining, Extending, Revising and Discontinuing a Proposed Solution

The maintenance, extension, a review, and discontinuation of any proposed solution after implementation will depend on a host of factors, especially if the project fails to achieve the expected outcomes. In this case, maintenance, extension and review would imply a positive outcome and signs that the project accrued benefits to stakeholders. Therefore, the maintenance plan would involve making the intervention a best practice and integrating it in the organizational culture in all relevant units within the facility ((Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019).

Extension would imply that case management is applied to other units while a review would mean customizing it of revising some of its components to align with organizational goals and objectives. Discontinuation will occur if the project is not sustainable for the organization based on cost-benefit. The discontinuation plan would entail seeking input from all stakeholders on the need to stop the project to avoid wastage of resources and time. The discontinuation plan should outline corrective measures to return to the traditional approach to caring for patients with chronic diseases.

Conclusion

The evaluation plan demonstrates the need to assess and ascertain the overall effectiveness of the EBP project proposal in the facility to benefit patients with chronic conditions. This evaluation plan will consist of certain tools and measures to ascertain possible positive outcomes from the project and attain better ways to help individuals with chronic conditions. The evaluation plan shows that the project is sustainable and will lead to better outcomes as expected for patients and the facility.

References

• DeNisco, S. M. (2019). Advanced Practice Nursing Essential Knowledge for the Profession Essential Knowledge for the Profession. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Halcomb, E. J. (2019). Mixed methods research The issues beyond combining methods. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75(3), 499–501. https //doi.org/10.1111/jan.13877
• Hudon, C., Chouinard, M. C., Aubrey-Bassler, K., Burge, F., Doucet, S., Ramsden, V. R., … & Pluye, P. (2018). Case management in primary care for frequent users of healthcare services with chronic diseases and complex care needs an implementation and realist evaluation protocol. BMJ open, 8(11), e026433. http //dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026433
• Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare A guide to best practice (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. ISBN-13 9781496384539
• Rebekah, G., & Ravindran, V. (2018). Statistical analysis in nursing research. Indian Journal of Continuing Nursing Education, 19(1), 62.