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An Innovative Approach to Teaching Evidence-Based Practice: Use of PICO Pal
Daria L Waszak1, Melissa Stec, Kady Martini
1Associate Dean and Assistant Professor (Dr Waszak) and Dean and Associate Professor (Dr Mihal), School of Nursing, Felician University, Lodi, New Jersey; Professor (Dr Stec), School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; and Assistant Professor (Dr Martini), College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus.
Background:
An innovative remote learning intervention, PICO Pal, was implemented with groups of undergraduate nursing students in a nursing research course to promote interactive learning, collaboration, and information literacy.
Problem:
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a challenging topic to teach nursing students, especially in a remote learning environment.
Approach:
PICO Pal used Apple Numbers to facilitate remote group work on a PICOT poster. The approach was evaluated using pre- and posttest surveys with 50 undergraduate nursing students at a small private university in New Jersey.
Outcomes:
The evaluation showed positive perceptions of the assignment and gains with knowledge of EBP. However, there were no gains in the perceptions of group work.
Conclusions:
The assignment was effective at teaching aspects of the EBP process but should be reevaluated to maximize group work dynamics and comfort with use of technology.
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