Keywords

continuing education, critical appraisal, evidence-based nursing practice, international collaboration, online self-learning

 

Authors

  1. GAGNON, JOHANNE PhD, RN
  2. GAGNON, MARIE-PIERRE PhD
  3. BUTEAU, ROSE-ANNE PhD, RN
  4. AZIZAH, GINETTE MBOUROU PhD
  5. JETTE, SYLVIE PhD, RN
  6. LAMPRON, AMELIE MA
  7. SIMONYAN, DAVID MSc
  8. ASUA, JOSE MD, PhD
  9. REVIRIEGO, EVA MSc

Abstract

Healthcare professionals need to update their knowledge and acquire skills to continually inform their practice based on scientific evidence. This study was designed to evaluate online self-learning modules on critical appraisal skills to promote the use of research in clinical practice among nurses from Quebec (Canada) and the Basque Country (Spain). The teaching material was developed in Quebec and adapted to the Basque Country as part of an international collaboration project. A prospective pre-post study was conducted with 36 nurses from Quebec and 47 from the Basque Country. Assessment comprised the administration of questionnaires before and after the course in order to explore the main intervention outcomes: knowledge acquisition and self-learning readiness. Satisfaction was also measured at the end of the course. Two of the three research hypotheses were confirmed: (1) participants significantly improved their overall knowledge score after the educational intervention; and (2) they were, in general, satisfied with the course, giving it a rating of seven out of 10. Participants also reported a greater readiness for self-directed learning after the course, but this result was not significant in Quebec. The study provides unique knowledge on the cultural adaptation of online self-learning modules for teaching nurses about critical appraisal skills and evidence-based practice.