Pilot study to test the use of a mobile device in the clinical setting to access evidence-based practice resources

To test the feasibility and acceptability of the use of a mobile device to access evidence-based practice (EBP) resources in the clinical setting.

A pretest/posttest design was used with a convenience sample of 2nd- and 3rd-year preregistration undergraduate health care students in the United Kingdom. Questionnaires were used to measure (1) feasibility and acceptability of the mobile device and (2) perceptions of the development of EBP knowledge and skills. The study took place during the students' clinical practice and involved two meetings at the beginning and end of the placement period. A Web page was developed to support the process and provide links to key EBP resources.

Nineteen undergraduate physiotherapy and nursing students took part in the study. The main findings indicated a generally low level of utilisation of the mobile device in the clinical setting, primarily due to practical difficulties associated with accessing the Internet and the small size of the screen. Consequently, the majority of the students used personal computers (PCs) to access EBP resources. Through the process, students reported improvements in their knowledge and skills in relation to EBP and the appraisal of clinical guidelines.

Students were able to complete the EBP activity using either the mobile device or PC and reported improvements in their knowledge and skills in relation to EBP and the appraisal of clinical guidelines. Findings suggest that for undergraduate health care students, rapid access to online evidence in the clinical environment is not necessarily essential for the integration of the EBP process into practice, or for the development of EBP knowledge and skills, provided there is easy access to such evidence at some point during the placement period.