Research Abstract Usefulness in Clinical Decision-making

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Clinical Decision-making
• Interventions: Behavioral: Access to EBN-Search (without full-text manuscripts)

• Registration Number: NCT01255488
• Lead Sponsor: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Brief Summary

To better understand the extent to which family nurse practitioners (FNPs) might use research abstracts in shaping their clinical decision-making under simulated conditions. A secondary point is to examine if and how FNPs might use full-text manuscripts (associated with the abstracts) if made available to them.

Detailed Description

The study will recruit the approximate 25 - 1st year and 25 - 2nd year family nurse practitioner students of the Graduate School of Nursing. After being presented an overview of the study and informed consent document, those electing to participate will draw a sealed envelope indicating whether they are assigned to group A (intervention group) or group B (control group). The participant will proceed to the associated room, be provided a brief clinical case (appropriate to their training), an iPad device with pre-loaded EBN-Search engine, and a questionnaire. The EBN-Search engine for the intervention group will include 9 research abstracts associated to the case. The EBN-Search for the control group will include both the research abstracts and full-text versions of the manuscripts. The participants will be provided 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire using the information available to them. The questionnaire will require the participant to indicate treatment plan, respond to questions regarding the usefulness of research abstracts, questions regarding the usefulness of full-text (control group only) and recommendations on improving EBN-Search.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2010-11
• Study Start: 2010-12
• Study First Submitted: 2010-12-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-12-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-12-06
• Study First Posted: 2010-12-07
• Last Update Posted: 2010-12-07
• Primary Completion: 2011-03
• Study Completion: 2011-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

• Matriculated family nurse practitioner graduate students of USUHS 2010/2011 academic year

Exclusion Criteria

• None

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
EBN-Search (without full-text manuscripts)	Access to EBN-Search (without full-text manuscripts)	In the intervention arm research subjects will be provided access to EBN-Search (a fictitious search engine) with nine abstracts relating to the clinical case but no full-text manuscripts.
EBN-Search (with full text manuscripts)	Access to EBN-Search (without full-text manuscripts)	Research subjects will be exposed to 9 abstracts and corresponding full-text manuscripts related to the simulated clinical encounter.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Measure of perception of abstract usefulness in clinical decision-making	Immediate post-experiment	At conclusion of the simulated exercise subjects will complete a data collection instrument indicating their perception of abstract usefulness in their clinical decision-making.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Use of full-text manuscripts when available in simulated clinical encounter	During experiment	For those subjects with ready access to full-text manuscripts (n=25) during the simulated clinical encounter, we will measure how often they are accessed by the subjects.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Uniformed Services University; 🇺🇸 Bethesda, Maryland, United States