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Introduction: Ineffective communication between health care professionals is one of the leading causes of medical errors and can result in adverse events and patient harm. Improving the effectiveness of communication in health care is a worldwide necessity. Objective: The aim of this project was to promote evidence-based practices regarding general communication principles among the nursing staff in one unit of a children's hospital in the southern United States. Methods: The project used JBI's Evidence Implementation Framework, together with two JBI audit tools (Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice). A baseline audit was conducted, followed by the implementation of targeted strategies. The project was completed with a follow-up audit to determine changes in practice. Results: Baseline data revealed 61% adherence with four audit criteria for effective communication in health care. Barriers included a lack of education of nursing staff regarding communication skills and less than optimal use of a structured communication tool. Targeted strategies to address the barriers included providing an educational module on communication to nursing staff and moving the structured communication tool to a more convenient location to increase its use. The post-implementation data revealed 81% adherence with the four audit criteria, a 20% increase from baseline results. Conclusions: Optimizing communication and monitoring the use of a structured communication tool has the potential to decrease the risk of medical errors among health care providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Immunosuppressed patients face increased health risks due to infections such as influenza or COVID-19. Scientific evidence supports improved health-related outcomes in this patient population, such as reduced hospitalizations, with up-to-date vaccinations. The project setting, a community-based rheumatology clinic, did not have a vaccination record specific to the needs of immunosuppressed patients, which may have led to suboptimal immunization status in these patients. Objective: This project aimed to promote evidence-based practices regarding the use of vaccinations in patients diagnosed with autoimmune disorders receiving immunosuppressive agents. Methods: This project used the JBI evidence implementation framework to promote best practices regarding vaccination. Two audit criteria were identified using a JBI evidence summary. Baseline audits identified gaps between the evidence and current practice. Barriers to best practice were then identified, and strategies implemented. Post-implementation audits measured changes in compliance. Results: Baseline audits revealed 67% compliance with the two best practices. Barriers included a lack of provider awareness of the current vaccination recommendations for immunosuppressed patients and a lack of customizable vaccine records. Strategies to address these barriers included educating providers about current national vaccination recommendations and implementing a new patient vaccination history intake form. Post-implementation audits revealed 83% compliance, a 16% increase from baseline. Conclusions: This evidence-based implementation project enhanced best practices by educating providers and implementing an updated patient vaccination history form. Recommendations included improved compliance with the use of the new form and assessing the effectiveness and usability of a customizable electronic form that interfaced with the clinic's electronic medical records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this project was to promote evidence-based practice and identify how to best implement nutrition education interventions for adults living in rural and/or low-income communities. Introduction: Adults living in rural and/or low-income communities are at increased risk for poor nutrition and chronic health conditions. Patients are referred to the EversCare Clinic (ECC), an ambulatory clinic at an academic medical center in Mississippi, USA, to receive assistance with social needs. In addition to living in rural and/or low-income communities, over 90% of the patients seen at the ECC are food-insecure, yet nutrition education is inconsistently provided. Methods: The JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System (PACES) and the Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) audit and feedback tools were used. The ECC team conducted a baseline audit of 30 patient electronic health records, designed and implemented best-practice nutrition education strategies, and completed a follow-up audit of 30 patient electronic health records. Four evidence-based criteria for nutrition education in adults living in rural and/or low-income communities were audited, and various interventions were used to address multiple levels. Results: The baseline audit revealed patients were not receiving recommended nutrition education interventions. Following the implementation, there was a 64.2% improvement in compliance with all four best practice criteria. Involving nursing students proved to be an effective method of improving compliance. Conclusion: Adherence to best practices regarding implementing nutrition education interventions was satisfactory, with 80% of patients receiving interventions at individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels. Future audits are planned to ensure sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]