Journal Club: Encouraging Evidence-Based Nursing Practice at the Bedside
Graduation Date
1-2008
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Nursing
Department or Program Chair
Barbara Ganley, PhD
Thesis Advisor
Barbara Ganley, PhD, RN, HNC
Abstract
Objective: This study was designed to determine if the initiation of a journal club would promote participating nursing staff to acquire knowledge from evidence-based practice journals. Background: Utilization of evidence-based practice had an increase in popularity, in the health care setting, because of concerns over the use of outdated practices. These practices can result in an increase of time the patient remains hospitalized, which generates higher health care cost and may lead to unfavorable patient outcomes. Supporters of evidence-based practice should recognize that increased exposure to research, through a journal club is one of the most cost effective methods of presenting research and bringing evidence-based practice to the nurse. Method: This study utilized a quasi-experimental design. Convenience sampling was used in acquiring participants for the study. Eleven participants attended three journal club meetings and completed the pre/post-test questionnaire associated with the various ways to acquire knowledge for practice. Results: Statistical results were acquired utilizing SPSS. The evaluation of pre and post-test resulted in a non-significant difference p>0.05 associated with how the nursing personnel acquired knowledge. However, the participants verbalized at various times during the course of the journal club the changes in practice that occurred related to knowledge acquired during the meetings. Conclusion: The emphasis being placed on finding evidence to guide and support nursing in their practice has been shown to result in increased satisfaction and better patient outcomes. Journal clubs can he a valuable and cost-effective tool in bringing that research to the nurse. Nurses' participating in journal Cubs focused on research can result in decreasing the gap between research and the utilization of evidence-based nursing practice.