Seven-month online course to strengthen evidence-based leadership

Effectiveness of Online Training Course to Improve Evidence-based Leadership Practices: a Cluster Randomised Two-arm Controlled Trial

Not applicable Interventional University of Turku · NCT06886581

Try a seven-month online course for unit leaders in social and health care to see if it improves staff's evidence-based skills, leadership for evidence-based practice, and quality of care.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment300 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Turku Academic / other
Locations1 site (Helsinki, South Finland)
Trial IDNCT06886581 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This cluster-randomised trial will randomise ward units in two southern Finnish wellbeing services counties to either a seven-month online evidence-based leadership course for unit leaders or a passive control. The intervention is delivered to leaders in small groups with seven course modules and supporting materials to change leader behaviours and support team-level EBP implementation. Outcomes include individual staff EBP skills and self-efficacy, team implementation measures, organisational quality-of-care indicators, and staff absence, and feasibility and fidelity of the intervention will be measured. Leaders are recruited within participating organisations via email and provide electronic consent and baseline data through REDCap.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are Finnish-speaking unit leaders with an official managerial role and a professional licence in health or social care who are willing to join and give informed consent.

Not a fit: Unit leaders who are on leave during recruitment or whose units remain in the passive control group are unlikely to receive benefit during the study period.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the training could increase team adoption of evidence-based practices, improve patient care, and reduce staff absence.

How similar studies have performed: Previous educational interventions for clinicians have shown modest improvements in evidence-based practice and implementation, but leader-targeted online cluster trials are relatively limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* have shown their willingness to join the study,
* unit leaders have an official managerial position at the study organisation,
* unit have a leaders with a professional licence to work in health or social care sector,
* unit leaders represent any gender,
* are able to speak, read and write in Finnish, and
* have given informed consent to join the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Those staff members who are off duty during the recruitment period (family leave, long-term sick leave, study leave, or any other reason).

Where this trial is running

Helsinki, South Finland

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Evidence-Based PracticeLeadershipcluster randomised trialevidence-basedleadership
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.