Does journal club membership empower practice?

Abstract

E vidence-based practice (EBP) has the potential to empower nurses, improve patient outcomes, and increase patient safety. Despite the abundance of supporting research, many practicing nurses don't believe in the important role that EBP has in patient care and their own capability to participate in EBP projects. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine whether active participation in EBP in the form of an evidence-based journal club impacted nurses' EBP beliefs. Literature reviewMany studies have been conducted with the intent of understanding specific nursing barriers to the implementation of EBP. Research has suggested that a lack of time and skills to participate in EBP is reflective of staff nurses' beliefs. 1,2 As EBP initiatives increase in popularity, we must explore alternative methods to entice nurses to participate in the EBP process, thus impacting their current beliefs and EBP skill level. Journal clubs have the potential to increase EBP participation in a fun and interactive way.Traditionally journal clubs were used to teach nurses about the research process and increase basic nursing knowledge. 3,4 However, the current focus of journal clubs is to use evidence-based research to teach nurses the skills to apply research findings to patient care, potentially improving patient outcomes. As Luby, Riley, and Towne state, participating in journal clubs potentially provides an outlet for nurses to participate in continuing education and practice change initiatives. 5 Evidence-based journal club participation has been identified to vary from 7 to 70 members. MethodsThe primary investigator requested a sample of 7 volunteers from a pool of 80 practicing ICU nurses at a local university hospital in New Jersey to participate in an EBP journal club. Before implementation of the journal club, the institutional review board at the university hospital gave ethical approval of the pilot study. An e-mail was sent to all 80 ICU RNs' work e-mail addresses, describing the journal club's objective and participation guidelines. The first seven nurses who responded to the request were chosen to participate. The nurses were asked to confidentially complete Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt's EBP Beliefs Scale before the first interaction of the journal club. The EBP Beliefs Scale was developed from previously developed scales by Melnyk and colleagues. 6,7,8 The scale assesses nurses' current beliefs regarding the value of EBP in clinical care and the nurses' confidence in their EBP implementation skills. The EBP Beliefs Scale was chosen due to its established reliability and validity testing. Reliability of the tool was demonstrated with a Cronbach alpha of 0.90, r = 0.87. 9 Permission for use was obtained directly from Dr. Fineout-Overholt.Each week the primary investigator posted a new evidence-based article online for the journal club members to discuss. Participants were asked to summarize the article, identify implications for practice, and evaluate applicability of the research findings to bedside care. Participants ...

The role of journal clubs in bridging the research-practice gap

“…An additional theme apparent in the literature is attitude toward research. 18 This effect has been demonstrated to even improve attitudes toward research of nurses not directly involved in the journal club. 27 Although shifting attitudes toward research is not usually a stated objective for implementing a journal club, the literature demonstrates this is often an outcome.…”

“…9,13,14,16,18,20 Additionally, education on and usage of a formal critiquing tool during a journal club was described by several authors as helpful to improvement of research appraisal skills. 9,13,14,16,18,20 Additionally, education on and usage of a formal critiquing tool during a journal club was described by several authors as helpful to improvement of research appraisal skills.…”

Nursing Journal Clubs and the Clinical Nurse Specialist

“…3,4 Journal club benefits include enhanced nursing care skills essential to translating research to clinical practice, 5 interprofessional credibility, 6 and improved clinical 7,8 and criticalthinking skills. 3,4 Journal club benefits include enhanced nursing care skills essential to translating research to clinical practice, 5 interprofessional credibility, 6 and improved clinical 7,8 and criticalthinking skills.…”

Empowering change with traditional or virtual journal clubs

“…1 In another survey, journal clubs were found to make a difference in attitudes and reduce perceived barriers to research usage in nursing practice. 1 In another survey, journal clubs were found to make a difference in attitudes and reduce perceived barriers to research usage in nursing practice.…”

“…1 This article describes the impact a journal club can have on promoting EBP and positive change, as well as best practices for successful journal clubs. Do my colleagues provide care in the same way?…”