Evidence-Based Management Practice and Associated Factors Among Managers of

Selected Public Health Institutions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction

Background

“Evidence-based management (EBM) is about making decisions through the conscientious,

explicit, and judicious use of the best available evidence from multiple sources by asking,

acquiring, appraising, aggregating, applying, and assessing to increase the likelihood of a

favorable outcome” [3]. Evidence-based management (EBMgt) is a process of decision-making

that incorporates the best available evidence from reliable sources with the manager's experience

and expertise, in order to make informed decisions that improve the performance and outcomes

of public health institutions. Evidence-based management (EBM) is an approach that utilizes the

best available evidence to inform decision-making and management practices. In the context of

public health institutions, the implementation of evidence-based management practices can

improve the quality of healthcare services and enhance organizational effectiveness. However,

little is known about the current state of evidence-based management practices among managers

of public health institutions and the factors that influence their adoption.

Statement of the Problem

Evidence-based management (EBM) is an approach that emphasizes the use of data, research

evidence, and expert opinion in decision making to improve organizational performance. EBM

practices are increasingly being adopted in healthcare institutions to enhance service quality and

safety, promote effectiveness, and reduce costs. In public health institutions, evidence-based

management is critical in ensuring successful outcomes in disease prevention, surveillance, and

control programs. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the extent of adoption, factors

influencing the implementation of EBM practices, and the impact of EBM on organizational

performance in public health institutions. This study seeks to fill this gap by examining the status

of EBM practices and associated factors among managers of public health institutions.

Introduction: Public health institutions play a critical role in promoting and maintaining the

health of the population. Effective management practices are critical for ensuring that these

institutions operate efficiently, within budget, and provide high-quality services. Evidence-based

management (EBM) is an approach to decision-making that emphasizes the use of research-

based information and data to inform organizational decisions. However, despite the growing

emphasis on EBM, many public health institutions continue to face significant challenges in

implementing it effectively. This study aims to investigate the factors associated with EBM

practice among managers of public health institutions.

Conclusion: Implementing EBM practices is critical for ensuring that public health institutions

operate efficiently, effectively, and provide quality services. Therefore, understanding the factors

influencing EBM practice among managers of these institutions is essential. The findings of this

study will provide insights into the level of EBM practices, the factors influencing EBM practice,

and the relationship between EBM practices and organizational performance

There has been an intense attempt to develop new models for organization and management,

especially in the last decade (1-6). One of these models is evidence-based management (EBMgt)

for different organizations. The EBMgt was an evolution in the practice of management and

organizations that was coined from the “Evidence-Based Medicine (EBMed)” by Sackett in the
1990s (1,3,7-11). According to several founders of this movement, “evidence-based medicine is

the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about

the care of individual patients” (5,7). Now, its principles are developing across disciplines such

as education, criminology, disaster management, health policy, economics and public policy

(5,12). In management and healthcare organizations, however, EBMgt is still in its infancy and a

large number of researchers demonstrate that it needs to develop more of a comprehensive

framework (1315). Evidence-based management is the systematic application of the best

available evidence to management decision-making, aimed at improving the performance of

healthcare organizations (16-20). The use of an evidence-based approach has been proposed to

get better practice of health care management by progressing in the quality of managerial

decisions (8,21-23). The EBMgt seeks to have managers who make judgments based on facts

and information by analyzing facts appropriately to make these judgments to a greater degree

(4,11,24). Healthcare managers should learn to search and critically appraise evidence from

management research as a basis for their practice(5,10,24).

Significance of the Study

The current doctoral research might contribute to understanding the factors and benefits of

implementing EBMgt, including linking EBMgt-EBM, to enhance the quality of healthcare

services American hospitals provide to their communities. The study may also help to bridge the

gap of knowledge that exists in the literature concerning integrating EBMgt and EBM. The

findings of this research inquiry are expected to provide insights to better understand the

influence of evidence-based informed decisions on the quality of care and hospital performance

as perceived by healthcare executives. It may also contribute to the overall national effort to

improve quality and reduce healthcare costs in the U.S. healthcare system