Research Dissemination by Posters and Journal Clubs

Research becomes useful when findings are disseminated to providers and then translated into action. Reviews of the medical field in the 1990s found that research alone did not lead to desired patient outcomes because patient outcomes only improved as providers translated research into clinically relevant forms. The ability to investigate questions, translate the best evidence into practice, and evaluate healthcare outcomes are foundational requirements for nurse practitioners. This project focused on training nurse practitioners in skills and techniques in disseminating evidence-based practice research findings. The discovery and application of new medical knowledge improves when providers disseminate research as part of their everyday evidence-based practice. Based on this idea, this project educated nurse practitioners to effectively disseminate practice-based research findings from the clinic to outside providers through posters, and from general medical literature into the clinic through journal clubs. Objectives designed to achieve this aim included: 1. Investigate best practices in the design and implementation of posters and journal clubs. 2. Develop educational methodology and resource to guide advanced practice nurses (APRNs) in the principles of poster design and journal club management. 3. Educate APRNs in the principles of poster design and journal club management. 4. Test effectiveness of educational methodology and resources. 5. Disseminate educational program and resources to APRNs, nurse educators, and university faculty. The educational materials and presentation provided: a summary of best practices for poster design and journal clubs management, including written and graphic instructions; guidance in the creation of posters; and detailed instructions on how to run journal clubs. The educational program took place at the University of Utah and the Huntsman Cancer Institute. After each presentation, a total of 3 journal club sessions occurred. The project included the design of a Canvas-based online module and website in order to widen the audience and distribution of the educational program and resources. This project found an educational program increased participants' knowledge of scientific posters, poster design, and journal clubs and their ability to design scientific posters, give presentations at journal clubs, and manage journal clubs. Participants were surveyed 2 months after the initial educational offering and reported continued positive utilization of the information presented. Based on the results of this project, consideration should be given to develop educational programs to train nurse practitioners on an ongoing basis in the design of professional posters and management of journal clubs. A program modeled on this project could be applied in a variety of settings including healthcare facilities as well as university and academic settings.