Research Champions: An Initiative to Improve Use of Research Evidence in Nursing Practice.

The implementation of the Research Champions program was an effective strategy to increase the confidence of direct care nurses in research skills, a goal for staff development educators. Postprogram questionnaires conducted at 12 months assessed participants' confidence in specific areas: critique of research manuscripts, comprehension of research statistics, knowledge of the ethics of research, and using research in practice. Data supported that participants' confidence increased in all areas assessed.