title: In search of evidence: a small scale study exploring how student nurses accessed information for a health needs assignment.
abstract: To help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to provide evidence-based practice in nursing, a health needs analysis assignment is incorporated within a pre-registration nursing programme. As student nurses have reported difficulties in accessing and utilising some of the information needed for this assigned task, the aim of the study was to explore their experiences of undertaking this assignment. Using a qualitative methodology data was collected from focus groups and categorised under three main themes: the challenge of evidence gathering; the nature of the support students needed and understanding the importance of evidence for practice. This paper illustrates that although accessing and utilising material was demanding and required more guidance, the biggest challenge lay in making judgements about it and there was a clear indication of the need for further support in developing their critical and evaluative skills. The quality of debate within the focus groups also led the research team to question whether educationalists are making the most of capitalising on the rich learning gained from students sharing their experiences of undertaking assignments.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Community and Education Studies, Northumbria University, Coach Lane Campus, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7XA, UK. raffik.cader@unn.ac.uk
authors.forename: Raffik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cader
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Derbyshire
authors.forename: Ann G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gannon-Leary
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walton
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003200:Computer User Training; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003625:Data Collection; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration; D004739:England; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007600:Judgment; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011361:Professional Competence; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013850:Thinking; D013997:Time Factors