Apoiando a educação em pesquisa dos graduandos de enfermagem

Participation of Nursing Students in Evidence-Based Practice Projects: Results of Two Focus Groups

The development of true evidence-based practice requires that practitioners have the knowledge and skills to research, analyze, and use evidence. These skills must be acquired in pre-graduate training. The objective of the present study was to analyze the contributions of students’ participation in knowledge translation projects to clinical practice for evidence-based learning. This was a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study that used focus groups. Scripted interviews were administered. The design of the study included five phases and took place in the partnering institutions of the Safety Transition Project, involving fifteen participants. The study was authorized by the Research Ethics Committee. The data were analyzed following the steps encoding the categories, storage and recovery, and (3) interpretation and using computer software (WebQDA^®, Ludomédia, Aveiro, Portugal). Four categories were identified: learning evidence; communicating science; evidence-based practice; and developing skills. The successful implementation of evidence-based practice education resulted in students who understand its importance and use it competently. Further research should explore the skills developed by nurses involved in similar projects and their contribution to an EBP culture.

Sense of Belonging and Evidence Learning: A Focus Group Study

A sense of belonging is a prerequisite for the professional and clinical success of nursing students. The objective of this study was to elucidate whether students’ participation in projects oriented toward translating knowledge into clinical practice promoted a sense of belonging and assisted with their integration into clinical practice services. Fifteen students were distributed into two focus groups, and the study was carried out by means of a semi-structured interview script using the research question as a starting point for directing the discussion toward more specific topics. Qualitative analysis followed a predefined protocol. WebQDA® software was used to organize and analyze the findings, as well as to increase their rigor. The study design was approved by an ethics committee. Three categories related to belongingness emerged from the data analysis: integration, participation, and collaborative work. Belongingness was a central element for integrating students into services, and it influenced their clinical education, their motivation, and the quality of their experience. It also allowed them to learn about evidence, communicate science, carry out evidence-based practice, and develop competencies. Concurrently, student integration was facilitated by the sharing of knowledge between professors and nurses, and the existence of ongoing work with clinical practice services.