The overall goal of the project is to develop an online escape game to gain
knowledge about evidence based practice (EBP) to implement EBP in classes and
clinical practice. By doing so, the project will create a safe, entertaining method to
train healthcare professionals in assessing clinical situations by applying EBP,
provide a way to emphasize on the need of EBP in practice, as well as improve
students’ and professionals’ perception towards – and appreciation of – EBP in
practice.

The following objectives are intended:
■ Describe the teaching models of EBP across the Partner EU countries, and
explore how EBP is embedded in the participating HEI’s curricula
■ Develop an online escape game, by involving target groups (students,
educators, professionals) in game development
■ Test the game for relevance, user satisfaction and impact on EBP knowledge
■ Develop supporting material on implementation of EBP in classes and clinical
practice
■ Embed the game in curricula of the partner HEI’s
■ Disseminate the results to create awareness and impact within and beyond
the Partners

What is Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a systematic approach to clinical decision-making
that integrates the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and individual
patient preferences. EBP helps ensure that healthcare decisions are not only
scientifically sound but also meaningful, feasible, and appropriate for diverse patient
populations and care settings.

Despite the growing awareness of EBP´s value, many healthcare professionals still
report difficulties applying it in daily practice. They often struggle with literature
searches, critical appraisal of evidence, and practical implementation. As a result,
there is a strong and growing demand for more effective, engaging, and structured
EBP education—especially in initial training and professional development.

Why EBP Education Matters?

Studies show that although healthcare professionals generally hold positive attitudes
toward EBP, many lack confidence in their ability to use it effectively. This gap
between theoretical knowledge and practical application hinders the integration of
EBP into clinical routines. Moreover, educational programs often focus more on
technical skills and theoretical knowledge, dedicating insufficient attention to
developing clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and decision-making.

Educators and academic institutions therefore play a crucial role in designing learning
experiences that support EBP as an everyday, usable skill. The use of interactive
teaching methods—such as case studies, journal clubs, workshops, and problem-
based learning—has been shown to increase student engagement and deepen
understanding of EBP content and relevance.

The EBP Game Project

The EBP Game project aims to address these educational challenges by developing
an interactive, game-based learning tool designed to improve EBP competencies
among healthcare students. The game is grounded in the widely recognized Sackett
Model of Evidence-Based Practice (1997), which offers a clear, five-step structure for
implementing EBP in clinical settings.

The project will serve as an international center for EBP teaching and learning,
integrating the game into the curricula of partner higher education institutions (HEIs)
and promoting its adoption across the European academic space.

The Sackett Model of EBP – A Practical Framework

Sackett’s five-step model is widely used in clinical education and quality improvement
initiatives. It offers a practical, replicable structure while allowing for clinical judgment
and ethical sensitivity.

The five steps are:
→ Formulating a clinical question
→ Critically appraising the evidence
→ Applying the evidence in clinical decision-making
→ Evaluating outcomes and fostering continuous improvement

This model promotes lifelong learning, professional accountability, and patient-
centered care. Its adaptability makes it especially suitable for use in gamified and
experiential learning formats.

How the Project Applies the Model
The EBP Game project builds on Sackett’s structure, adapting it into a realistic and
engaging educational scenario. The following five key steps serve as the game’s
foundation:
✔ Identifying the health problem and formulating the PICO question
✔ Generating evidence (via research, expert input, and clinical discourse)
✔ Synthesizing evidence (systematic reviews, evidence summaries, and
guidelines)
✔ Implementing evidence into practice
✔ Evaluating both clinical and process outcomes 

This approach ensures that players not only learn EBP theory but also practice
applying it in a realistic clinical setting, developing both competence and confidence.

FOUR WORK PACKAGES (WPs) will ensure the fulfilment of objectives:

1. WP1 will be in charge of Project Management, under the coordination of
University Colleges Leuven-Limburg of Belgium. Main objective of the WP
(overall): to perform efficient and persistent management of the project, by
monitoring of the project’s progress, outputs and budget.

2. WP2 will be dedicated to innovation, exploration and development of the
online EBP escape game. Main objective of the WP (overall): To develop an
online escape game to teach the 5 steps of evidence-based practice (EBP) in
healthcare professions.

3. WP3 will enhance to pilot testing of the online EBP escape game and
evaluation of the educational value of the game. Main objective of the WP
(overall): To assure that the developed EBP escape game can be used to
learn the 5 steps of EBP by each ‘player’ (beyond health profession, culture,
diversity and inclusivity).

4. WP4 deals with communication, dissemination and exploitation of results.
Main objective of the WP (overall): To disseminate the EBP escape game and
project results outside the partner consortium, to homogenize EBP training
and increase sustainability of the escape game.

University Colleges Leuven-Limburg (Belgium, Coordinator)

Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) (Belgium, Project partner)

Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário CRL (Portugal,
Project partner)

Medical University of Warsaw (Poland, Project partner)

Laurea Ammattikorkea Koulu OY (Finland, Project partner )

Universitat Autonoma De Barcelona (Spain, Project partner)

LudusXR Aps (Denmark, Project partner)