Compare and contrast two change theories, and determine which theory makes the most sense for implementing your specific EBP project. (The effect of nutrition in our health).
Why? Has your mentor used either theory, and to what result?
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Introduction:
Change theories are important frameworks that aid healthcare providers in implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) projects. As a medical professor, it is my responsibility to ensure that medical college students understand the different change theories and their applicability in implementing EBP projects. In this answer, I will compare and contrast two change theories and determine which theory makes the most sense for implementing an EBP project on the effect of nutrition in our health.
Answer:
The two change theories that will be compared and contrasted are the Diffusion of Innovation (DoI) theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model.
The DoI theory explains that the adoption of innovation is determined by factors such as the innovation’s relative advantage, compatibility with existing practices, complexity, observability, and trialability. The PDSA model, on the other hand, is a continuous improvement tool that involves planning a change, implementing it, studying its effects, and acting on the results obtained.
Both the DoI theory and the PDSA model have their advantages and disadvantages in implementing EBP projects. The DoI theory is useful when trying to introduce new treatments, drugs, or technologies in healthcare. However, it may not be the best approach for implementing an EBP project concerning the effect of nutrition in our health. This is because nutrition-related projects are often complex and require significant behavioral changes, making the DoI theory ill-suited.
On the other hand, the PDSA model is effective when trying to implement quality improvement changes in healthcare. This model allows healthcare providers to test a change on a small scale, observe its effects, and build on the results to refine the intervention. Therefore, the PDSA model makes more sense for implementing an EBP project on the effect of nutrition in our health.
As a medical professor, I have seen my mentor use the PDSA model to implement an EBP project that aimed to reduce hospital lengths of stay for patients undergoing hip and knee replacements. The PDSA model was effectively used to test, evaluate, and refine the intervention, which resulted in significant reductions in hospital lengths of stay.