Translating Research into Practice: The Role of Web-Based Education

SUMMARY

Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) constitute a major focus of recent efforts to narrow the gap between research and practice. However, CBGs cannot effectively change clinical practice unless they are effectively disseminated. The present article describes a web-based course designed to teach nurses about a CPG for the management of alcohol withdrawal. In it, we outline the details of our web-based course, including its technical characteristics, organization, structure, and clinical content. Next, we outline several adjunctive strategies that may improve the effectiveness of such web-based educational interventions. Finally, we discuss other ways that web-based education may prove useful in disseminating evidence-based practices in human service delivery settings.

KEYWORDS:

• Clinical practice guideline
• web-based intervention
• e-learning