Evidence-based Leadership in Nurse Leaders-FI

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study protocol describes a randomised feasibility trial that will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the training course to improve evidence-based leadership competencies among nurse leaders working in hospitals in Finland.

Detailed Description
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This study will include a 6-months training intervention for nurse leaders working in hospital settings in Finland. About 140 nurse leaders fulfilling the eligibility criteria will be randomly allocated (1:1) to participate in the online training course about evidence-based leadership or conventional leadership training course (reading material only).

Official Title
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Online Training to Improve Evidence-based Leadership Competencies Among Nurse Leaders in Finland: Study Protocol for a Randomised Feasibility Trial (EVILED-FI)

Conditions
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Leadership

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Evidence-based leadership training
* Other: Conventional training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Official managerial role in the study organisation (hospital, clinic, ward level), which give them an authority to act as a nurse leader and monitor, develop and evaluate the care Being in full time or part time position All sex Aged up to 65 years Working in the study sites at the time of the recruitment Ability to read and write Finnish language Willingness to join the study based on their own free will Informed consent obtained Exclusion Criteria: Non-nursing professionals in leadership position (e.g. physician, psychologist, pharmacist, dietician/nutritionist, dentist, physiotherapist, radiation therapist, paramedic, occupational therapist, social worker, or disability worker) Speaking only other languages than Finnish (e.g. Swedish or English) Out of duty during the recruitment period for family leave, long term sick leave, study leave or any other reason

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: A single-blind, individually randomised, two-arm parallel-group controlled feasibility trial design will be used.
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Evidence-based leadership training<br>The training course will take 6 months. It is divided into seven online modules. Participants join the course based on pre-structured schedule. The progress of the training course will follow specific steps to improve participants' evidence-based leadership competencies. First, each participant identifies one leadership problem on daily practice. Second, organisational data will be collected and analysed to increase the understanding of the key problem. Third, scientific literature will be searched, identified and critically appraised to find solutions. Fourth, the views of stakeholders (patients, clinicians, family members, etc.) are considered together with ethical implications. And last, all sources of information are critically appraised, new solution will be designed and implemented into the practice, and evaluated in real world context. Each module includes specific learning material. Trained tutors are responsible for mentoring each module. | Other: Evidence-based leadership training<br>* 7-modules online training over six months mentored by tutors. Independent familiarisation of reading material, peer-group discussions, self-reflection, assignments, tutor's feedback.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Conventional training<br>The participants will join a training course with the same structure, topics, and timing as the experimental group. However, training in this group is based on independent learning methods. The participants have access to the separate learning platform, which includes reading material to be read independently. No group discussions with peers, self-reflection, assignments, or support from tutors will be offered. | Other: Conventional training<br>* 7-modules online training over six months. Independent reading only.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Acceptability of the intervention | The degree of execution (success and failure of execution) of the intervention protocol by calculating the number of logins for each module and all participants | 6 months | 
| Adherence in the course | Adherence in the course by calculating the number of returned course tasks out of all possible tasks | 6 months | 
| Adherence in the course tasks | Adherence in the course by calculating the number of returned course tasks by each participant | 6 months | 
| Drop-out rate | The drop-out rate calculated by the number of participants who left the study early (no follow-up data) | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Acceptability in recruitment | The number of nurse leaders who accepted (or refused) the invitation to participate in the research study | Baseline | 
| Feasibility of the eligibility criteria | The number of nurse leaders who fulfilled eligibility criteria | Baseline | 
| Feasibility of the outcome instruments for measuring the potential effectiveness of the online course | The number of missing variables of each returned instrument | Baseline and 6 months | 
| Leadership skills (Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire [MLQ]) | Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) | Baseline and 6 months | 
| Evidence-based practice, knowledge, and attitudes (Evidence Based Practice Questionnaire [EBPQ]) | Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ) | Baseline and 6 months | 
| Self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale [GSE]) | General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) | Baseline and 6 months | 
| Self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale [RSE]) | Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) | Baseline and 6 months | 
| Intention to leave (questionnaire) | Three-item questionnaire | Baseline and 6 months | 
| Course feedback | Eight-item questionnaire | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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feasibility, randomised controlled trial, training