Dr Rachel Wenke1,2,3, Dr Caitlin Brandenburg1,2, Dr Paulina Stehlik3, Dr Gervase Tuxworth3, Dr David Chen3, Dr Ian Hughes1, Dr Jodie Wiseman4, Mrs Katherine Richards1, Dr Janice Yeung1, Dr John Gerrard1, Dr Sharon Mickan2,5
1Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Australia, 2Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia, 3Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia, 4University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Australia, 5Mosaic Health Consulting, Gold Coast, Australia
Biography:
Dr Rachel Wenke is the Director of Allied Health Research at Gold Coast Health and holds adjunct appointments with Griffith and Bond universities. Throughout her career, Rachel has worked as a clinical speech pathologist and has a passion for empowering clinicians to use, participate in and lead meaningful research to ultimately optimise the health and wellbeing of patients and the community. Rachel's current research interests include research capacity building, innovative models of care and using AI to enhance clinical workflows.
Abstract:
Aims:
TREAT is an evidence-based journal club (JC) format shown to improve clinician-reported Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) skills and influence clinical practice. To spread the format, an innovative web-based system (www.treatjournalclubs.com) was co-designed. This research evaluated the impact of the web-based system on spreading TREAT JCs, user-experience, and how resultant JCs changed clinician EBP-use and clinical practice.
Methods:
The Knowledge-to-Action cycle informed a mixed methods research design. Spread was assessed using website analytics across three years. Questionnaires were emailed to participants including an EBP Questionnaire (EBPQ) (pre and 10-months post JC implementation), satisfaction and clinical practice questionnaire (10-months post JC implementation) and participants were invited to share experiences in a semi-structured interview. Website analytics and questionnaire data were analysed descriptively. Mixed effects analysis assessed change in EBPQ scores. Transcribed interviews and free-form questionnaire responses were inductively coded using qualitative content-analyses.
Results:
There were 159 JCs registered through the website, with registered users from 16 countries. Pre EBPQs were completed by 149 participants and 27 completed post-questionnaires. Clinicians attended a median of 5 JC sessions over 10-months, with 44% reporting clinical practice changes, however there were no pre-post EBPQ score changes. Six participants from three countries were interviewed, describing positive experiences with the web-based system. Participants recommended TREAT JCs but sustaining them was challenging.
Conclusion:
A web-based approach helped spread TREAT JCs internationally, but supporting sustainability should be explored. While clinical changes were reported, low response rates limited effectiveness conclusions. Lessons about scaling web-based interventions and AHP implications will be discussed.