Article type
Year
Abstract
Introduction: Health Care internationally is increasingly concerned with effectiveness. In a recent overview of systematic reviews of interventions to promote implementation of research findings by health professionals it was reported that passive dissemination of information is generally ineffective in altering practices1
Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of an interactive evidence-based wound care study day on changes in knowledge and reported practice. A study day was developed in order to: actively disseminate to health care professionals the best available research-evidence in 3 areas of wound care (venous leg ulcers2, diabetic foot ulcers, debridement of chronic wounds); introduce the concepts of systematic reviews to these professionals; examine implementation issues which arise from this research evidence; develop a dissemination pack for use by participants; Design: Before and after-study with waiting list control
Methods: Health care professionals, working in the area of wound care, were personally invited to attend an initial study day. This led to four further days which were open to all health care professionals. Respondents were asked to complete a questionnaire as part of their application for a place on these days; the questionnaire examined current knowledge and clinical practice in three identified areas. The questionnaire was distributed again to all participants at 3 month follow-up to assess knowledge change and will be distributed again to all participants at 12 month follow-up to assess reported practice change.
Results: Health professionals were significantly more knowledgeable about the evidence base for the three areas of wound care 3 months after the study days (p<0.000). Results of this analysis and the analysis of self-reported practice change at 12 months post study days will be presented.
Discussion: This paper will discuss the effectiveness of an interactive study day as a dissemination tool on changes in knowledge and reported practice.
1) Bero LA, Grilli R, Grimshaw JM, Harvey E, Oxman AD, Thomson MA Closing the gap between research and practice: an overview of systematic reviews of interventions to promote the implementation of research findings. BMJ 1998 317(7156): 465-8.
2) Cullum N, Fletcher AW, Nelson EA, Sheldon TA Compression bandages and stockings in the treatment of venous leg ulcers (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 1999. Oxford: Update Software.
Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of an interactive evidence-based wound care study day on changes in knowledge and reported practice. A study day was developed in order to: actively disseminate to health care professionals the best available research-evidence in 3 areas of wound care (venous leg ulcers2, diabetic foot ulcers, debridement of chronic wounds); introduce the concepts of systematic reviews to these professionals; examine implementation issues which arise from this research evidence; develop a dissemination pack for use by participants; Design: Before and after-study with waiting list control
Methods: Health care professionals, working in the area of wound care, were personally invited to attend an initial study day. This led to four further days which were open to all health care professionals. Respondents were asked to complete a questionnaire as part of their application for a place on these days; the questionnaire examined current knowledge and clinical practice in three identified areas. The questionnaire was distributed again to all participants at 3 month follow-up to assess knowledge change and will be distributed again to all participants at 12 month follow-up to assess reported practice change.
Results: Health professionals were significantly more knowledgeable about the evidence base for the three areas of wound care 3 months after the study days (p<0.000). Results of this analysis and the analysis of self-reported practice change at 12 months post study days will be presented.
Discussion: This paper will discuss the effectiveness of an interactive study day as a dissemination tool on changes in knowledge and reported practice.
1) Bero LA, Grilli R, Grimshaw JM, Harvey E, Oxman AD, Thomson MA Closing the gap between research and practice: an overview of systematic reviews of interventions to promote the implementation of research findings. BMJ 1998 317(7156): 465-8.
2) Cullum N, Fletcher AW, Nelson EA, Sheldon TA Compression bandages and stockings in the treatment of venous leg ulcers (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 1999. Oxford: Update Software.