Six-Month Follow-up of a Regional Evidence-based Practice Fellowship Program

OBJECTIVEThis study examined a 6-month follow-up of a regional evidence-based practice (EBP) fellowship program and the predictors of EBP adoption at hospital units. BACKGROUNDThe immediate beneficial effects of a regional EBP program are known, but the medium-term effects are not certain. METHODSA matched pretest/posttest study was conducted using a mailed questionnaire 6 months after the completion of a 9-month regional EBP fellowship program among 3 annual cohorts of participants. RESULTSStatistically significant improvements in the mean scores of EBP beliefs, EBP implementation, and group cohesion were found (P < .05). Of the 47 participants who completed their EBP projects, more than three-quarters reported EBP adoption at their own hospital units, and EBP beliefs were a positive predictor of EBP adoption (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.22; P = .017). CONCLUSIONSThe outcome improvements continued 6 months after the fellowship program, and strong EBP beliefs predicted EBP adoption in the participants’ units.