Evidence-based practice (EBP) in social work and nursing: PICO, literature searching, appraising studies, guidelines and national expert standards – companion material for your studies.
Self-study course as companion material for your studies, for students of social work (Bachelor's and Master's, including dual and part-time programmes), of childhood education and curative education (Heilpädagogik), and for early-career professionals in social and nursing-related fields who want to learn how to turn practice questions into search questions, find studies and guidelines, read them critically and combine them responsibly with professional knowledge and the preferences of service users – for term papers, presentations, journal clubs, timed written papers and practical placements. Self-study course – companion material for your studies; it does not replace any lecture or seminar, any university examination or any practical placement – 8 modules, approx. 8 hours, at your own pace, with a confirmation of participation after you have worked through all modules. Sources in APA 7 style, as of October 2026.
The modules:
- Knowledge that holds up: what evidence-based practice means
- From practice question to search question: the EBP cycle with PICO
- Which study fits? Designs, levels of evidence and their limits
- Searching with purpose: databases, search strategy and documentation
- Reading studies critically: bias, effects and reporting standards
- Classifying guidelines, national expert standards (Expertenstandards) and professional standards
- Evidence meets lifeworld: expertise, preferences and participation
- Journal club, literature report and critical review
Not a degree programme and not offered by a university; it does not replace any lecture or seminar, any university examination or any practical placement.
📘 Background reading (in German): Academic work during your studies: good practice, citing and AI
Self-study without supervision, assignments or evaluation of learning progress by instructors; the voluntary self-reflection is for your own orientation only. Your confirmation of participation becomes available once you have marked all modules as done yourself.