Evidence-based practice educational program: a Portuguese experience with undergraduate nursing students.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial for enhancing healthcare quality, reducing costs, and improving patient experiences.
• Significant gaps persist between research findings and clinical practice, hindering EBP implementation.
• Educational initiatives are vital for bridging the research-practice gap and fostering an EBP culture among future healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and develop an educational intervention focused on evidence-based practice (EBP) for undergraduate nursing students.
• To evaluate the perceptions and feedback of nursing students who participated in the developed EBP educational intervention.

Main Methods:

• An EBP educational intervention was created for undergraduate nursing students, adhering to established guidelines for reporting such interventions.
• The intervention draft was reviewed by eight subject matter experts, with their feedback incorporated into the final design.
• The program was implemented with fourth-year nursing students, followed by data collection through an online questionnaire to gather participant feedback.

Main Results:

• The 17-week program, comprising 12 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of mentorship, was refined based on expert recommendations.
• Student feedback was largely positive, although participants suggested adjustments to the program's duration.
• Experts deemed the program well-structured but advised modifications to objectives and target audience.

Conclusions:

• The developed EBP educational program is considered suitable for integration into undergraduate nursing curricula.
• Expert review and student feedback indicate the program's potential to effectively embed EBP principles among future nurses.
• The intervention serves as a valuable tool for cultivating an evidence-based practice culture from the foundational stages of nursing education.