A collaborative approach to engaging undergraduate students in learning and developing evidence-based practice

Background: Students often have difficulty engaging with evidenced-based practice (EBP) courses that are largely theoretical and lack clinical relevance. This may result in graduates lacking vital skills to critique practice and participate in quality improvement. Approach: This paper describes the development and implementation of a collaborative academic and healthcare industry-based course that linked theoretical aspects of EBP. Students undertook a quality improvement project during clinical practice experience. Course assessments were designed to provide feedback on the progression of projects, the integration of theoretical and practical aspects of EBP and dissemination of findings. Conclusions: The course required substantial collaboration between the university and industry partners to identify clinically relevant projects and coordinate academic and clinical mentorship to support the students. The course demonstrated a significant level of clinical and academic partnership that resulted in relevant clinical quality improvements and increased student engagement with learning about, producing and implementing EBP.