Paradigm of Evidence-Based Practice

Evidence-based practice is a lifelong problem-solving approach to assess current healthcare practices that answers the question, "what is best for our patients?" The answer is discovered and supported through a systematic search for and critical appraisal of the most relevant and best research to answer a clinical question, in addition to incorporating one’s own clinical expertise (including the use of internal evidence) and patient/family values and preferences. This is a dynamic process with the goal to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019).

Seven Steps of the Evidence-Based Practice Process

1.    Cultivate a spirit of inquiry within an EBP culture
2.    Ask the PICO(T) question
3.    Search for the most relevant best evidence
4.    Critically appraise the evidence
5.    Integrate evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences to make a practice change
6.    Evaluate the outcomes of the practice change
7.    Disseminate the outcomes

The Leadership Institute offers a variety of pathways for evidence-based practice (EBP) training and implementation science experiences. The aims of the educational offerings are to prepare clinicians to understand and apply the seven steps of evidence-based practice process.

EBP Pathways

E-Learning Series

The e-learning module series provides multi-disciplinary frontline care providers a basic introduction to understanding and improving their EBP knowledge. The online module experience is self-paced and can be a great way to get a start on EBP fundamentals or reinforce knowledge that you want to review. This includes 10 hours of content divided into seven modules that provide an overview of the EBP process, in addition to describing the need for evidence in health care and how EBP can improve quality outcomes and advance clinical practice. Each module is accompanied by an EBP Playbook, which stimulates critical thinking in applying the EBP concepts. 

7 module series:

  • Introduction to EBP & Cultivating a Spirit of Inquiry
  • Exploring the Problem & Developing a PICOT Question
  • Finding the Evidence
  • Critical Appraisal of Evidence
  • Integrating the Evidence and Implementation Science
  • Evaluating the Outcomes
  • Dissemination

Upon completion of the modules, 10 continuing education contact hours are awarded.

  • If you are a UCSF employee, search for “Evidence-Based Practice E-Learning Series” in Nursing Connect to find and launch this curriculum.
  • If you are an external user, please create a Nursing Connect account at: https://ucsfnursing.csod.com/selfreg/register.aspx?c=ucsf001. Once you have created your account, search for “Evidence-Based Practice E-Learning Series” in Nursing Connect to find and launch this curriculum.

Please contact [email protected] for any questions regarding registration

Training Experiences

The UCSF Leadership Institute aims to be a preeminent global destination for professional development, specializing in advanced evidence-based practice in healthcare. A variety of educational training programs are offered that provides options for various experience levels in EBP.  From novice to expert, the Leadership Institute can partner with you and your organization to provide further opportunities to launch or excel in developing knowledge, skills, and abilities in your EBP journey.

Option 1: Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice Workshop

This workshop introduces and provides an overview of the seven steps of the EBP process involved to incorporate evidence into your clinical practice. Topics include clinical inquiry, PICOT, searching principles and strategies, critical appraisal, implementing and sustaining change, evaluating outcomes and disseminating results. An EBP Toolkit will be distributed to all participants as a resource.  Upon completion, 7 contact hours of continuing education are awarded to participants.

Option 2: Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice Workshop, Two-Part Series 

This workshop includes two seven-hour sessions that engages participants in an educational experience focused on facilitating an evidence-based approach to critically appraising evidence needed to implement a practice change. To meet different learning styles and preferences, there are options to attend in-person or virtually. Upon completion of the two-part workshop series, 14 contact hours of continuing education are awarded to the participants. The Foundations of EBP Workshop includes minimal pre-work and offers mentored practice sessions with EBP experts.

Option 3: Micro-Learning Sessions

These micro-learning sessions introduces the steps involved to incorporate EBP into your clinical practice. This learning experience option is great for those who need a refresher or just want to concentrate on honing specific EBP skills with an experienced EBP mentor.  Upon completion, 2-4 contact hours of continuing education are awarded to participants depending on the specific session.

Session topics:

•    Session 1: Formulating a PICO(T) Question
•    Session 2: Searching for the Literature
•    Session 3: Critically Appraising a Body of Evidence
•    Session 4: Integrating Implementation Science to Implement a Practice Change
•    Session 5: Outcomes Management
•    Session 6: Disseminating Your EBP Project

Option 4: EBP Mentor Training Program

This workshop series provides comprehensive training to prepare health care professionals to be trained EBP mentors who can support and guide practice changes at the microsystem level and serve to be an invaluable asset to sustain evidence-based practice in health care organizations. Participants will have an opportunity to develop additional advanced EBP knowledge, skills and abilities. Additionally, topics such as organizational change, change behavior, barriers to EBP, and the use of theoretical frameworks will be addressed to build the arsenal of mentoring skills.

 

EBP Immersive Experience

The Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Immersive Experience is a hybrid training experience that includes a three-day in-person  immersion, three virtual workshops and three small group coaching sessions which allow participants to take a deep dive into evidence-based practice. Participants are led through graduate-level didactic workshops which includes opportunities  to practice their EBP knowledge, skills and abilities. This immersive experience empowers health professionals to  improve patient care and clinical outcomes, and provides  proven approaches to implementing evidence into practice. Participants will gain access to EBP tools to support critical  appraisal of evidence, implementation and sustainment  strategies, and support from EBP experts who serve as mentors.

Participants are mentored through the preparation and delivery of an EBP project proposal that is further developed and  implemented at their health care institution. The program engages participants in an innovative educational experience focused on facilitating an evidence-based approach to  implementing a formal practice change on their unit, in addition to assessing the outcomes and impact of interventions in  clinical settings. This immersive experience will leverage concepts of evidence synthesis, implementation science,  and evaluation of change. Access to the UCSF Health and campus library resources are included during the journey.

Program Details

Location: UCSF Center for Nursing Excellence & Innovation, 2001 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94143

Group discount: contact [email protected]

The program is limited to 36 participants.

30 contact hours are awarded of continuing education

To register into the learning management system:

 

 

EBP Fellowship Program

The Fellowship Program will assist participants in understanding how evidence-based practice can help to positively impact health system priorities, in addition to mastering graduate level EBP knowledge, skills, and abilities. The series of workshops and coaching sessions that comprise the fellowship program are intended to guide competitively selected clinicians to develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate a formal practice change in their microsystem.  The main goals of the fellowship program are to advance clinical practice and improve patient and family care that advance UCSF Health organizational priorities. The program objectives for the fellowship program include:

  1. Compare and contrast research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement.
  2. Identify practice questions that are amendable to the process of evidence-based practice and aligned with UCSF Health’s True North Scorecard and Fellow’s division strategic plan.
  3. Apply an evidence-based practice model through the development of a practice change.
  4. Demonstrate skills needed to develop and implement an evidence-based practice change:
  • Develop a searchable, clinical question
  • Complete a comprehensive and systematic literature search
  • Critically appraisal and synthesize a body of evidence
  • Assimilate scientific and clinical knowledge to arrive at practice recommendations that are evidence-based.
  • Document the level of evidence for each practice recommendation.
  1. Develop an implementation plan to effect change in practice.
  2. Identify and use implementation science strategies for effecting behavior change among nurses and interprofessionals.
  3. Evaluate outcomes from the change in practice.
  4. Collect and analyze data through the use of descriptive and/or inferential statistics or qualitative means.
  5. Formulate a formal sustainability plan for the practice change.
  6. Disseminate the EBP initiative to internal department and/or hospital committees and councils.
  7. Identify and execute an external dissemination plan to share the EBP initiative results at a professional conference or publication.

During the 10-month, 120-hour fellowship program, participants will utilize an EBP model to guide them through the 7 steps of the EBP process. To best support the fellows during the program, a primary EBP mentor will be assigned to work individually with each fellow, in addition to monthly team coaching sessions with a subject matter expert coach and operational sponsor from the organization the participant currently is employed at. The monthly workshops will align with the implementation process timeline and feature didactic teachings, opportunities for application and experiential learning exercises.  EBP Fellows will be expected to disseminate their work through both internal and external efforts. For more information, click the UCSF EBP fellowship page below.click here to learn more about the ucsf ebp fellowship

Additional Information

EBP Fellowship Program Eligibility Criteria
•    Minimum of 2 years of clinical experience
•    At least 1-year full-time employment as a clinician
•    Currently employed in a full-time career position (≥ 70% or .7 FTE) as a clinician at your organization. You must remain in this position/role for the duration of the fellowship program.
•    Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint
•    Interest in an identified health system priority 
•    Identified by your Supervisor/Unit Director as a team player with strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal skills, and an employee who meets or exceeds expectations on their performance evaluation