Teaching evidence-based practice principles to prepare health professions students for an interprofessional learning...

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
• Interprofessional Learning

Background:

• Health professions students require training in evidence-based practice (EBP) within interprofessional contexts.
• Online learning modules offer a scalable solution for delivering EBP education.
• Standardized EBP training is crucial for consistent interprofessional collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of online learning modules in teaching EBP principles to health professions students.
• To evaluate the impact of EBP modules on student competence in an interprofessional setting.
• To gather student feedback on the utility and impact of online EBP learning modules.

Main Methods:

• Two online EBP modules were developed by librarians and an instructional designer.
• 39 students from 8 health professions across two institutions participated.
• Student EBP competence was assessed pre- and post-modules and post-activity; module evaluations were collected.

Main Results:

• Students achieved average scores of 83% and 76% on the online EBP modules.
• Significant improvement in EBP competence was observed post-module completion (p=0.001).
• Students reported acquiring valuable skills for patient care planning and future clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• Online EBP modules successfully enhanced health professions students' knowledge and skills.
• Consistent module content ensured a standardized EBP foundation for interprofessional activities.
• Student feedback highlighted the modules' value and positive impact on learning.