CHAPTER 10: Key Information Sources for Clinical Decision-Making Among Ghanaian Clinical Nurses and Midwives

Clinical decision-making in healthcare relies on factors such as clinical experience, knowledge of evidence-based practices (EBPs) and patient-specific circumstances. Over the years, there has been a skewed emphasis on the empirical pattern of knowing, overlooking other patterns of knowing. Key sources of information and patterns of knowing influence how nurses and midwives interpret clinical situations, make decisions and provide care. However, in many low- and middle-income countries, such as Ghana, a knowledge gap exists regarding the sources of information, patterns of knowing guiding clinical decision-making in nursing and midwifery practice. It is also not known to what extent nurses and midwives are able to use the empirical pattern of knowing, which has gained priority over the years. This chapter addresses the knowledge gap by examining the primary sources of information, the patterns of knowing that guide clinical decision-making in nursing and midwifery practice in Ghana, as well as their ability to use the empirical pattern of knowing. Recommendations for use of all patterns, with an emphasis on empirical pattern of knowing are provided to facilitate knowledge translation to practice and support clinical decision-making. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 400 clinical nurses and midwives, sampled through a multistage sampling method. Data were collected using a modified EBP questionnaire and analysed with STATA 16, both descriptively and inferentially. The results show that the most used sources of information in line with the patterns of knowing were empirical (formal education/school training, in-service training, journal articles (34%) and pharmaceutical literature), with journal articles being the least used source, and ethical (hospital policies and protocols). The findings imply the need for enhanced research training. Health facilities and educational institutions should improve access to digital resources and regularly update hospital protocols and curricula for nursing and midwifery education using current evidence.