A qualitative examination of the perceived impact of bureaucratic managerialism on evidence-based practice implementation in Nigeria: a collective case study

Abstract

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is widely recognised as an essential aspect of contemporary healthcare delivery. However, the rise in cost containment and quest for profitability in healthcare management is found to be compromising implementation of evidence-based initiatives aimed at improving care quality. Aims: The aim of this work was to examine perspectives of nurses regarding the impact of bureaucratic managerialism on EBP implementation in the Nigerian acute care setting. Methods: A qualitative case study methodology was utilised to gather data from two large acute care settings. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, 12 staff nurses, 21 ward managers and 2 nurse managers were interviewed. Data were inductively analysed and themes generated. Results: The managerial practice in this context is founded on bureaucratic managerialism, which in turn generated hierarchical constraints that denied nurses the opportunity to self-govern. Implementation of evidence-based initiatives was consequently opposed by the managerial desire to maximise throughput. Conclusions: There is need for nurse managers to have greater managerial influence, which would allow opportunities for implementing EBPs to be created. Managerial autonomy for nurse managers would allow them to create enabling environments capable of facilitating successful implementation.