Facilitating Change to Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: The Iowa and Stetler Models
The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice
Developed by Marita Titler to promote quality healthcare, the Iowa Model is a source of guidance for nurses and clinicians when making decisions that have an impact on patient outcomes. It infuses research into practice by using a multidisciplinary team approach to address a number of topics that are clinically important (Melryk and Overholt, 2011). This model is represented as an algorithm that has well-defined feedback loops as well as decision points. The very first decision has got to do with whether a particular problem is a priority to an organization and the second decision considers how adequate the evidence is to change practice. After the conduction of a pilot of change, on the basis of the available evidence, subsequent decisions are made on whether to adopt it or not, which is followed by frequent evaluations (Schaffer, Sandau and Diedrick, 2013).
The Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice
The Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) enables practitioners assess how research findings can be applied in practice. It helps nurses use evidence to make formal changes in organizations and enhances reflective practice and critical thinking (Melryk and Overholt,...
The model integrates evidence informed practice and research use, which enhances the application of a specific research. Using this model, research use is categorized into instrumental, conceptual and symbolic use. It has six phases. The said phases include: preparation, validation, comparative evaluation, decision making, translation and application and evaluation (Melryk and Overholt, 2011).
A comparison of the Iowa and Stetler methods
In the designing and implementing of an EBP project, the Stetler Model relies on the perspectives of individual clinicians while the main focus of the Iowa model is on institutional EBP efforts (Melryk and Overholt, 2011). Education components are not specified by the Iowa model, which makes it difficult for nurses to interpret research. The Stetler Model has evaluation tools that make guideline development easier, which makes it easier for staff nurses to use. It provides an understandable guide for implementation and makes use of practitioner expertise and evidence. Although the Iowa model incorporates decision points and feedback loops, most nurses do not prefer it over the Stetler model. In terms of simplicity, the Iowa model can be termed as simple as it only involves making direct decisions as opposed to the Stetler Model, which has six phases. However, the…
