Evidence based practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Evidence based practice - Essay Example DEFINITIONS AND BRIEF IMPORTANCE OF CLINICAL PRACTICE The term evidence-based practice (EBP) or empirically-supported treatment (EST) refers to preferential use of mental and behavioral health interventions for which systematic empirical research has provided evidence of statistically significant effectiveness as treatments for specific problems. (Thomas & Pring, 2005) A way in which this benefits medicine would be in studying the effects of cannabis. This drug has been found to share commonality with schizophrenia. Immunology research has found common receptors located in in immune cells, spleen macrophages, to be specific. These have the ability to alter immune cell migration and cytokine-release within body tissues and in the brain, these receptors tend to be abnormal in schizophrenia patients. More findings that hint at a larger relationship between, not cannabis itself – but receptors it depends on, and a biological predisposition towards schizophrenia. Research such as t his can bring nurses and medical technologists more fully into the treatment of psychiatric care. (Cabral & Staab, 2005) (Gong et al, 2006) An additional definition would be: "Evidence based medicine is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. â€Å"Sackett et al's (1996, 71-72) And in this clinicians must integrate personal clinical expertise with the most cutting-edge external clinical evidence from systematic research. Another vital factor in Evidence-based practice is quality or performance improvement; how to streamline services in order to maximize the most efficient use of resources? (Bayea & Slattery, 2006) By definition: Performance Improvement (PI) is a method for analyzing performance problems and setting up systems to ensure good performance. PI is applied most effectively to groups of workers within the same organization or performing similar jobs. (Intrahealth.org 2011) A possibl e example would be to make systematized evaluations of patient needs based on probabilities. For instance, schizophrenics have a 25% higher proclivity towards illicit drug abuse than the general population. (Jablensky, 2000) Also, in studies of the neuropathology of the psychiatric disorder schizophrenia, findings have emerged which link the condition to brain receptors that are actually susceptible to molecules of cannabis. Schizophrenia is a challenging psychiatric disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 0.4% amongst the general population. (Desfosses et al. 2010) This can inform clinical choices, and influence the circumstances under which certain batteries of tests are ordered, and for whom, saving time and money. PART 2 ASPECT OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND RATIONALE I have chosen for the exploration of Evidence-based Practice a linkage between susceptibility to cannabis, and the neurological disorder, schizophrenia. Clinical research has established a connection, and where such a ssociations occur, it behooves clinicians to explore the phenomenon to aid diagnostic tools. Among the atypical antipsychotics used to treat schizophrenia, there are risks factors. Among these medications is clozapine (Clozaril). It is a