title: Developing the skills required for evidence-based practice.
abstract: The current health care environment requires practitioners with the skills to find and apply the best currently available evidence for effective health care, to contribute to the development of evidence-based practice protocols, and to evaluate the impact of utilizing validated research findings in practice. Current approaches to teaching research are based mainly on gaining skills by participation in the research process. Emphasis on the requirement for rigour in the process of creating new knowledge is assumed to lead to skill in the process of using research information created by others. This article reflects upon the requirements for evidence-based practice, and the degree to which current approaches to teaching research prepare practitioners who are able to find, evaluate and best use currently available research information. The potential for using the principles of systematic review as a teaching and learning strategy for research is explored, and some of the possible strengths and weakness of this approach are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Central Lancashire, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005544:Forecasting; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic