Evaluation of an evidence-based practice education workshop focused on critical appraisal for advanced practice nurses: A before-after intervention study.

Background: Regarding the evidence-based practice (EBP) process, nurses tend to perceive that critical appraisal of research articles is challenging. Though critical appraisal in EBP has been a frequent topic in medical education, implementing and disseminating existing EBP education for nurses are challenging in countries with limited EBP educational resources. This study aimed to evaluate changes in practice, attitude, knowledge and skills of EBP before and after an EBP workshop focused on critical appraisal among advanced practice nurses.

Methods: This study was a before and after educational intervention study. The workshops were provided in small groups in 2017 and 2018. The targeted nurses were certified nurse specialists (CNSs) who provide patient care and are certified as advanced practice nurses. The workshop was designed to include at least one CNS in each group. The Japanese version of the Evidence-based Practice Questionnaire, with four subscales-practice, attitude, and knowledge and skills of research and practice-was evaluated four times: baseline, immediately after the workshop, and 3 and 6 months after the workshop. At the end of the workshop, the participants wrote their learning objectives and plans for improving their critical appraisal of EBP. A self-reflection questionnaire was distributed 3 months after the workshop, and a qualitative descriptive analysis was used.

Results: Eleven CNSs participated in this study. Only the score of the knowledge and skills of research showed a statistically significant change. Many participants did not perform critical appraisal of research articles after the workshop. The facilitators were to have a role in integrating research evidence into practice and the barriers to being too busy, personnel transfers, and insufficient conditions.

Conclusions: Self-efficacy for critical appraisal in EBP might increase through the EBP education workshop. Even nurses interested in EBP require ongoing learning opportunities and organizational support for EBP activities.

Trial registration: This study was retrospectively registered with University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (UMINCTR) on 09/14/2018 (Registration Number. UMIN000034146).