A standardized curriculum to introduce novice health professional students to practice-based learning and improvement: a multi-institutional pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Practice-based learning and improvement (PBLI) combines the science of continuous quality improvement with the pragmatics of day-to-day clinical care delivery. PBLI is a core-learning domain in nursing and medical education. We developed a workbook-based, project-focused curriculum to teach PBLI to novice health professional students.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the efficacy of a standardized curriculum to teach PBLI.


METHODS
Nonrandomized, controlled trial with medical and nursing students from 3 institutions.


METHODS
Faculty used the workbook to facilitate completion of an improvement project with 16 participants. Both participants and controls (N = 15) completed instruments to measure PBLI knowledge and self-efficacy. Participants also completed a satisfaction survey and presented project posters at a national conference.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in PBLI knowledge between groups. Self-efficacy of participants was higher than that of controls in identifying best practice, identifying measures, identifying successful local improvement work, implementing a structured change plan, and using Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology. Participant satisfaction with the curriculum was high.


CONCLUSIONS
Although PBLI knowledge was similar between groups, participants had higher self-efficacy and confidently disseminated their findings via formal poster presentation. This pilot study suggests that using a workbook-based, project-focused approach may be effective in teaching PBLI to novice health professional students.
Huntington
Jonathan T
JT
Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
Dycus
Paula
P
Hix
Carolyn
C
West
Rita
R
McKeon
Leslie
L
Coleman
Mary T
MT
Hathaway
Donna
D
McCurren
Cynthia
C
Ogrinc
Greg
G
D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D003479:Curriculum; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011787:Quality of Health Care