This paper will provide a report on the initial phases of an innovative funded research project that seeks to support evidence-based decision making in the clinical practice of registered nurses and registered practical nurses. The project, scheduled for completion in 2007, involves the development and testing of a model which uses a personal digital assistant (PDA) to facilitate knowledge translation from BPGs to clinical decision-making at point of care. The initial phases of the project reported here included: a) the development of a clinical algorithm, based on the RNAO best practice guidelines (BPG) Promoting Control of Asthma, b) conversion of that algorithm into a format compatible with a personal digital assistant (PDA) to be used by nurses at the bedside, and c) creation of an applet designed to provide an on-line training module for nurses.

 The prevalence of asthma in some parts of the world, for example Oceania, North America, and Western Europe, has been increasing in recent years. This research examines an innovation that has infinite potential to close the research-practice gap and improve nursing care of patients with asthma as well as assisting with record keeping and patient care tracking. The results may well be generalizable to other BPGs.