Table 1 Characteristics of included studies (n = 12)

Bennet et al.

Before-after trial

University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

94 (59)

Not reported

1 university semester course duration 13 weeks

Undergraduate final year occupational therapy students (n = 32)

Postgraduate physiotherapy students (n = 27)

Students

Kim et al.

Before-after trial

Collaboration between hospitals and university, San Diego, California, USA

159 (111)

42 (range 22–64)

2008–2010

3 annual cohorts of nurses attending the 9-month collaborative regional fellowship program.

Pre-test and post-test (after 9 months)

Staff nurse (n = 58)

Nurse manager (n = 9)

Clinical nurse specialist/Nurse educator/Nurse practitioner (n = 63)

16 (range: 1–42) years

Lizarondo et al.

Before-after trial

Healthcare facilities, Tasmania, Australia

93 (93)

Not reported

6 months

Speech pathologists (n = 10), physiotherapists (n = 19), social workers (n = 16), occupational therapists (n = 36), dieticians/nutritionists (n = 12)

Academic background:

Undergraduate qualifications n = 53

Postgraduate qualifications n = 40

Length of clinical

practice:

<5 years n = 19

>5 but <10 years n = 17

>10 years n = 49

not reported n = 8

McCluskey et al.

Before-after trial

School of Exercise and Health Sciences, New South Wales, Australia

114

FU 1 (post intervention) 106

FU 2 (8 month post intervention) 51

Not reported

November 2001–March 2003

Professional occupational therapists

Qualification:

Diploma n = 15/degree n = 99

Time since graduation:

<5 years n = 29

>5 but < 10 years n = 19

>10 years n = 66

Meyer et al.

Before-after trial

Diabetes educator courses in Germany.

Centres providing the diabetes educator graduate programme accredited by the German Diabetes Association

121 (93)

Not reported

2003–2004

Diabetes nurse specialists (65 %) or diabetes counsellors without a university degree, 3 % of the participants were dieticians with a university degree

Not reported

Varnell et al.

Before-after trial

Acute care setting Texas, USA

102 (98)

43.6 (range 22–62)

8 weeks

Registered nurses

14.7 (range 1–41) years

Yost et al.

Before-after trial

School of Nursing McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

40 (21)

44.3 ± 9.2

May 2010–November 2010 (6 month)

Registered Nurse (n = 25)

Advance practice nurse (n = 1)

Physicians (n = 1)

Librarian (n = 2)

Other (n = 10)

Not reported (n = 1)

Main job function:

Executive officer (n = 2)

Associate medical officer of health (n = 1)

Program manager/administrator (n = 14)

Direct service/care provider (n = 5)

Research (n = 2)

Policy development/analysis (n=

1)

Faculty (n = 8)

Other (n = 6)

Not reported n = 1

Baccalaureate (n = 20)

Masters (n = 18)

Other (n = 1)

Not reported (n = 1)

Chen et al.

Nonrandomised controlled trial

2-year nursing program at one college, Taiwan

IG 94 (94)

CG 74 (74)

Not reported

1 semester

Students graduated from junior nursing schools with clinical practicum experience

IG:

(n = 13)

Working experience (1 month to 2 years as a nurse)

(n = 81)

No working experience

CG:

(n = 6)

Working experience (1 month to 2 years as a nurse)

(n = 68)

No working experience

Courey et al.

Nonrandomised controlled trial

University, Ohio

IG 19 (19)

CG 39 (39)

Not reported

1 semester

First year students in a 2-year associate degree nursing program

Not reported

Jalali-Nia et al.

Randomised controlled trial

Baccalaureate nursing program, Teheran, Iran

IG 20 (20)

CG 21 (21)

Not reported

1 semester

Students in the second year of the baccalaureate nursing program

Not reported

Stevenson et al.

Randomised controlled trial

Musculoskeletal physiotherapists working within the Community Trust North Staffordshire, UK

IG 17 (16)

CG 13 (11)

18–29

IG = 1 CG = 0

30–49

IG = 8 CG = 10

≥50

IG = 8

CG = 3

Six month

Physiotherapists of all grades

Average time since qualification:

IG 25 years

CG 23 years

Levin et al.

Randomised controlled trial

Home care setting/community health setting; New York (3 regions: Queens, Bronx, Manhattan), USA

IG 22

CG 24

Not reported

13 months

Nurse managers and visiting staff nurses

Diploma IG (n = 0)/CG (n = 1)

Associate degree IG (n = 4)/CG (n = 4)

Bachelor’s degree IG (n = 10)/CG (n = 10)

Master’s degree

IG (n = 7)/CG (n = 5)

Not reported

IG (n = 1)/CG (n = 4)

Dizon et al.

Randomised controlled trial

Training centre at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines

IG 27

FU 1 (post intervention) 27

FU 2 (3 month post intervention) 15

CG 27

FU 1 (post intervention) 25

FU 2 (3 month post intervention) 11

IG (median, IQR)

29 (26–36)

CG (median, IQR)

28 (25–30)

3 month

Physiotherapists

Years in practice

IG (median, IQR)

4.2 (2–7.75)

CG (median, IQR)

3.0 (1.13-4)