The School of Health & Social Care

New book to aid use of research in practice

Page published 23 September 2011

‘Using Research in Practice: It Sounds Good, But Will it Work?’

BU Practice Development Fellow, Dr Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor, authors new book looking at the use of research in practice.

Bournemouth University Practice Development Fellow, Dr Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor, has authored a new book which will prove essential for any health care student or practitioner seeking to evaluate and develop their own evidence base.

Using Research in Practice: It Sounds Good, But Will It Work? is published by Palgrave Macmillan (ISBN 9780230278646) and draws on Dr Hewitt-Taylor’s extensive research and teaching experience within the field of practice development.

Based in the Centre for Practice Development, within the University’s School of Health and Social Care, Dr Hewitt-Taylor believes that the latest research findings can provide an evidence base for health care practice which ultimately improves outcomes for patients. But with so much published research available, it can prove difficult to find, evaluate and use the most relevant studies to shape an individual or team’s health care practice.

The book progresses through the key stages of locating, selecting and evaluating research findings in health care, offering an engaging, practice-based approach to an often daunting task. The book explores how to appraise and apply data drawn from a range of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies. It also demonstrates how research findings can influence decision-making and can improve the practice of both individuals and teams. And it uses stimulating practice scenarios and worked examples to provide a transferrable blueprint for evidence based practice.