Evidence Translating Ability: A Walker and Avant Concept Analysis

Abstract

AIM: Evidence-based practice is a way to minimize the theory-to-practice gap. However, translating evidence into practice is not merely appraising the evidence, and for applying it to patients, the context factors need to be included. This study aims to analyze the meaning of the concept of “evidence translating ability” in nursing. METHOD: Walker and Avant’s method was utilized in this study. Keywords such as evidence, evident, transferring, translating, and ability were mixed for literature searching in PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar from 2017 to April 2022. RESULTS: Nine studies that met inclusion criteria were analyzed. Attributes of evidence translating ability included four themes: identification of contextual barriers and facilitators to implementation, evaluation of evidence, collaboration with colleagues to modify recommendations, and pilot and dissemination. Antecedents included two themes: facilitating environment and experience of nurses. Consequences included three themes: motivating and sustaining evidence-based practice, providing high-quality care, and reducing inequity in health care. CONCLUSION: Evidence translating ability requires a set of skills that nurses have to do such as identifying the challenges and analyzing the setting for searching the evidence; the best evidence is not the highest evidence hierarchy, the best evidence is the evidence that suits patient, organization, and practitioner abilities.