title: A standardized curriculum to introduce novice health professional students to practice-based learning and improvement: a multi-institutional pilot study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Huntington
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dycus
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hix
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McKeon
authors.forename: Mary T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hathaway
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCurren
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ogrinc
mesh_terms: 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