Teaching evidence-based practice in the hospital and the library: two different groups, one course

Area of Science:

• Medical librarianship
• Health sciences education

Background:

• Hospital and academic librarians play key roles in teaching evidence-based practice (EBP).
• There is a growing interest in developing effective EBP training programs within academic medical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a three-credit hour seminar on the basics of evidence-based practice.
• To outline the collaborative process between academic librarians and a medical center's EBP Nursing Council.

Main Methods:

• The seminar was designed with three core elements: EBP principles and literature searching, clinical experience and knowledge integration, and patient education and participation.
• Emphasis was placed on literature analysis, institutional practice change models, and the role of patients in guideline development.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive seminar curriculum was developed, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical application in a hospital setting.
• The program highlighted the importance of interprofessional collaboration and patient engagement in advancing evidence-based practice.

Conclusions:

• The developed seminar provides a structured educational framework for teaching evidence-based practice fundamentals.
• This initiative demonstrates a successful model for academic librarians to contribute to healthcare professional education and practice improvement.