Embedding the 6 Cs into clinical research practice and management

Implementing a novel programme for nurses and allied health professionals to develop capacity for evidence-informed clinical practice

Background

Nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) require skills and support to access, appraise, interpret and use research evidence in clinical practice. We describe the process of designing and implementing the Evidence in Practice (EiP) programme at a UK hospital.

Methods

Key stakeholders were engaged to identify learning needs and priorities in appraising and implementing research evidence. To address these, we designed a multi-strategy bespoke programme of activities.

Results

The programme comprised the development of (a) a visual summary of a research paper, (b) five skills development masterclasses and (c) a six-month mentoring scheme to develop and implement plans for translating evidence into practice.

Discussion

The programme overcame many of the traditional barriers (lack of access, skills and time) to increase engagement of nurses and AHP staff in accessing, reviewing and using evidence in clinical practice.

Conclusion

With clinical leadership support, it is feasible to use a multi-strategy approach to promote and enable nurses and AHPs to use evidence in clinical practice.

An overview of research ethics and learning from the past

This article has introduced the reader to research ethics. In order to to show the development of the codes of ethics and guidelines in use today, it has briefly reviewed the most infamous unethical research studies. Learning from these traumatic and often cruel moments i history gave impetus to the development of international ethical guidelines, driving research conduct and protecting the rights and safety of those participating in studies today. Research within the NHS would not exist without the hundreds of thousands of patients who volunteer their time and indeed their 'selves' to research . Researchers have a duty to those patients, to treat them with the dignity, respect and care they would afford any patient. In addition to serving as researchers, they must also act as patient advocates to ensure that every stage of the research process embraces all elements of ethical codes and frameworks and patients should expect nothing less.