Building an Effective Journal Club among Nurses: an Action Research from the United Arab Emirates

Background: Journal clubs (JCs) are widely used to enhance nurses’ knowledge, promote evidence-based practice, and support professional development. However, in many clinical settings, JCs lack structured implementation and rigorous evaluation, especially in large, dispersed healthcare systems. Objective: To implement a structured journal club framework among nurses in a major healthcare organization and evaluate its effectiveness in improving knowledge, research engagement, and professional satisfaction. Methods: An action research design was conducted from September 2023 to June 2024 within Abu Dhabi Health Service Company (SEHA), the largest healthcare provider in the UAE. Eight JC meetings were held virtually. Attendance records showed that 551 nurses participated at least once, with a total attendance frequency of 827. For evaluation, 55 nurses who attended at least three meetings were invited to complete a mixed-methods survey, of whom 34 responded (62% response rate). Quantitative data were analyzed for reliability, validity, and correlation using Cronbach’s alpha, the Shapiro-Wilk test, and Kendall’s tau. Qualitative responses (n = 31) were thematically analyzed. Results: High internal reliability was demonstrated across all evaluation scales (Cronbach’s α = 0.96–0.98). Strong positive correlations were found between JC implementation, perceived benefits, and satisfaction (τ = 0.778–0.894, p<0.001). Participants reported high agreement with statements reflecting the success of the JC framework, its usefulness, and overall satisfaction (mean > 4.0 out of 5). Thematic analysis revealed three main themes: perceived benefits (e.g., improved article appraisal skills, knowledge updates, and research engagement), perceived limitations (e.g., virtual format and low discussion participation), and suggested improvements (e.g., unit-based and face-to-face sessions). Conclusion: The structured JC framework was positively received and perceived as beneficial by engaged participants. While limited by sample size and context, the study indicates potential value in continuing and expanding the initiative, particularly through unit-based adaptations and enhanced participation strategies.