An innovative model for getting research into practice is “New Knowledge Discussion Groups.” The New Knowledge Model has been evolving for fifteen years. Although somewhat similar to other discussion groups, the model involves a contract with health practitioner participants to read four articles on an identified topic and to attend four sessions. A group co-leader often contacts the author (researcher) of one of the articles to share information and to ask questions. The model has been described in four publications in nursing journals and has been shared at an Institute of Medicine invited session on interdisciplinary education.
Fourteen groups have been conducted in different settings on various topics. Some examples include: an acute care staff discussing pain management, a group of advanced practice nurses in rural areas discussing health promotion methods, a family medicine clinic staff discussing cultural competence for one cultural group, and a nurse educator group (including both clinical agency and university personnel) discussing clinical competency.
Evaluation methods for the various groups have included process evaluation through analysis of audiotape recordings, participant satisfaction surveys, learning outcome questionnaires, and one-year follow-up interviews on practice changes. Participants have been overwhelmingly satisfied with participation in the groups with many groups expressing interest in continuing with group discussions. Analysis of audio-taped group sessions have demonstrated practice change ideas and plans. Even though learning and practice-change outcomes have been described in surveys, more specific evaluation is needed. Possible future evaluation plans include: participant long-term (6 months-12 months) job satisfaction, practice change among individual health practitioners, and evidence-based policy change among involved clinical agencies.
The objective for this presentation is to synthesize evaluation findings for the fourteen New Knowledge Discussion Groups. Evaluation methods used and findings from the previous groups will be shared and reflected upon to determine future evaluations for the New Knowledge Discussion Group Model. A plan for the evaluation of all groups using the model for the next two years will be described.
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