Instead of relying on traditional practices that perhaps may be outdated, evidence-based care is based on evidence that works. Organizations employ chief information officers to put the latest research into practice, as well as offering training based on what the latest research says about a topic. In the following essay I will examine the benefits of how evidence-based care is necessary to provide effective care, as well as the limitations it can pose when aiming to provide effective care. Finally I will reach a conclusion by answering this question after analyzing the advantages and disadvantages as well as a case study. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay When considering the benefits of evidence-based care, there are many to consider, basing care on research evidence helps healthcare providers stay current. Some workers may have been doing the job for many years, and instead of relying on what they learned years ago, it is helpful to keep their knowledge up to date and help provide effective care. The health and social care sector is constantly evolving and finding different ways to provide the best possible care to service users and using evidence-based care helps to provide this. Many service users are now starting to question why they are being offered a particular advice or treatment and, using evidence-based care, this can be explained to them, for many they are less willing to trust a professional's judgment alone and the fact that they give this evidence can help reassure them that they are receiving the best care possible. Healthcare professionals are able to draw on expert summaries of the research, normally in the form of guidelines, which is not only useful for them but saves them time having to read the research and evaluate it themselves, gives them clear knowledge and concise that I am then able to pass them on to service users when necessary. In addition to considering the benefits of evidence-based care, it is helpful to consider what might happen if care was not based on research evidence. Dahm et al (2010) quoted in The Open University explained that if care was not based on research evidence it could in fact harm service users. The example given was “bed rest,” often used as a recommendation for a variety of things such as back pain. However, a research review study on the effects of bed rest actually found that it could actually make things worse by weakening muscles, and that it actually provides no benefit. Reveiz et al (2013) cited in The Open University (2014f, p.89) found that using evidence-based research stopped any unnecessary interventions such as an enema during labour. Enemas were used in hopes of reducing infection during labor, but they can actually cause additional pain. When researching the use of enemas during labor it was discovered that it did not decrease the rate of infection and was therefore an unnecessary intervention. This helps provide effective care as it avoids any additional pain for the laboring woman. Another problem that can arise when treatments are not based on research evidence is the waste of resources. Venekamp et al (2013) cited in The Open University (2014h, p.89) found that many children are prescribed antibiotics for ear infections, but a review of the evidenceResearch has shown that most ear infections clear up on their own and that it is actually a waste of resources to routinely prescribe antibiotics to young children with ear infections. All of these problems can arise when evidence-based care is not based on research evidence and therefore does not provide effective care. While there are many benefits of evidence-based care, there are also limitations. Evidence based care is not an individualistic approach as explained by Lambert et al (2006) quoted in The Open University, research evidence only ever tells you what is generally best but not what is actually best for that particular one personGillespie et al (2013) cited in The Open University found that older people at risk of falls fall less if they exercise the right type of muscle strengthening and balance activities. However, although evidence-based care speaks to the effectiveness of a treatment or cure, it is equally important to see whether it helps maintain the dignity and independence of service users, as well as for older people, even if they can see the benefit of doing these exercises they might think they would look ridiculous and be embarrassing. Although some research is designed or commissioned by service users and may mean that their priorities and interests are addressed, as Glasby and Beresford (2006) cited in The Open University explain, this is still rare and service users may often encounter problems that make their involvement difficult or even impossible, as cited by Fudge et al (2008) in The Open University. Therefore, this means that basing care on research evidence is actually unlikely to empower service users and may make it more difficult for them to get the care they want if there is no clear evidence that it is likely to work. Evidence-based research is constantly evolving, and it can be difficult for healthcare professionals to keep up to date with new research that could potentially make their jobs more difficult and stressful. Evidence-based care does not allow for intuitive knowing, which is important in some aspects of social care and nursing, as Benner et al (2009) and Pretz and Folse (2011), both cited in The Open University, have identified. This means that evidence-based research may leave little room for healthcare professionals who are experienced and have acquired many valuable skills to assess complex personal situations. This will therefore influence the level of care received by service users. It's most effective to see how evidence-based care works when you look at a case study. Christine Johnson is a healthcare worker, she was working with a family and when she talks to that family she finds out that their daughter Madison, is wetting the bed and Ashleigh, the mother, and she is upset because she is still wetting the bed several times a week even though he is eight years old. Christine then offers her advice based on the NICE Guidelines which give advice on how to manage bedwetting in children and young people, which is an example of evidence-based care. However, Christine worked with the family, so she could have offered them better advice that perhaps would have been more personal and helpful to them. Christine giving them advice about the NICE Guidelines doesn't necessarily mean she agrees with some recommendations such as the reward system, if she doesn't think Madison will stick to it and it won't work then there would be no point in suggesting it. Perhaps if Christine hadn't worked with the family before, this would be very useful information but from my point of view.