Measurement Instruments
Summary of Measurement Instruments
When attempting to implement an evidence-based practice (EBP) change, it is difficult to separate the influence of the system’s organizational structure from the influence of the individuals who make up the system. The social system of a practice environment is the combination and interaction of the characteristics of the organization and of the individuals working there. This social system is the context within which an EBP is implemented. Users interact through communication channels and social networks within the organizational structure and hierarchy to make a complex and dynamic context that is unique to each social system. Dissemination strategies that focus primarily on the individual adopters or organizational structural change and minimize the importance of the dynamic, interactive organizational context, may overlook key variables that influence adoption of EBP.
The organizational context consists of core elements that include culture and climate, interactive human relationships, and the measurement and evaluation processes specific to the organization. The purpose of this section of the NNPN website is to have a summary of instruments for measuring core healthcare delivery context variables that may influence adoption of EBP. There is no general consensus on which core set of elements of the organization, or combination of elements, are key to promoting EBP.