Implementation of Evidence into Practice

Running head: IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE INTO PRACTICE
IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE INTO PRACTICE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE INTO PRACTICE
Introduction
To ensure the deliverance of optimum healthcare and quality clinical services for
adequate safety and comprehensive recovery across patients, healthcare professionals must
engage in the administration of evidence based professional interventions. Evidence based
practice implies that interventions and decisions administered in terms of healthcare, must be
supported by scientifically valid, significant and recent research (Kalb et al., 2015). Despite the
importance of evidence based practice, there continues to be a lack of its implementation and a
relevant gap between theoretical research and actual healthcare professional practice (da Silva et
al., 2015). The following essay will aim to discuss relevant gaps in practice considering a topic
of comparative effectiveness researched by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ).
Discussion
Discussion of Practice
The field of practice researched by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ), for the evaluation of scientific comparative effectiveness includes the safety and
efficacy associated with the screening of post partum depression. According to the systematic
review by the AHRQ as a part of its ‘Effective Healthcare Program’, it has been evidenced that
implementation of a comprehensive screening and assessment underlying evaluation of post
partum depression has been associated with the positive health outcomes among women as
compared to women who did not undergo any form of screening. There is a need for future
research however, on the role of aspects of timing, sensitivity, specificity and frequency on the

2IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE INTO PRACTICE
effectiveness and safety underlying implementation of a post partum screening procedure
(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2019).
Implementation
There continues to remain considerable awareness and evidence on the detrimental
psychological and physiological health outcomes associated with untreated post partum
depression. In the United States, post partum depression continues to prevail at rates of 12.8%,
with the lowest rates observed in Maine (6.6%) and highest rates observed in Arkansas (22.3%)
(Corrigan, Kwasky & Groh, 2015). As part of its objectives, Healthy People 2020 necessitates
immediate resolution and reduction in prevalence of post partum depression across the nation.
Further, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recommend early assessment
of post partum depression among women at the perinatal state, while the American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends pediatricians to undertake post partum screening among mothers at
frequent time periods, during the first month, second month and fourth month, respectively.
However, the condition continues to remain unreported and undiagnosed among 68% of mother
across the nation, with only an estimated half of the population receiving treatment interventions
for the same (Mukherjee et al., 2018).
Prevalent Barriers
The observed lack of implementation underlying the timely screening of post partum
depression continues to prevail due to the presence of several barriers. Cultural misconceptions
and barriers continue to be a major barrier to implementation in practice, especially among
cultural groups like Hispanics and Blacks, where women believe that seeking mental health
assistance is a sign of ‘craziness’ and results in inappropriate societal labeling. Additional
barriers include stereotypical misconceptions ostracizing women with claims that perceptions of