Culturally Congruent Evidence-Based Practice in an International Outreach Course for Prelicensure Nursing Students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Global Health

Background:

• The Population/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) framework is standard for evidence-based practice (EBP) questions.
• Prelicensure nursing students use PICO to synthesize knowledge and evidence for practice decisions.
• International outreach courses present challenges where EBP may be unavailable or culturally incongruent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore adapting the PICO framework for nursing students in international outreach.
• To integrate cultural competence into the PICO structure for global health settings.
• To provide faculty guidance for applying PICO in culturally diverse contexts.

Main Methods:

• A case study approach was used.
• The study focused on an undergraduate nursing outreach course.
• The PICO framework was adapted to incorporate cultural competence.

Main Results:

• Faculty guidance facilitated the integration of cultural competence into the PICO framework.
• Students learned to apply an adapted PICO framework in an international setting.
• The modified PICO approach supported culturally congruent EBP decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Adapting the PICO framework with cultural competence is essential for international nursing outreach.
• Faculty mentorship is crucial for guiding students in applying culturally sensitive EBP.
• This approach enhances the relevance and effectiveness of nursing interventions in diverse global communities.