Adopting evidence-based practice in clinical decision making: nurses' perceptions, knowledge, and barriers

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

Background:

• Evidence-based practice (EBP) is essential for delivering quality healthcare.
• Nurses' understanding and adoption of EBP are critical for its successful implementation.
• Factors influencing EBP adoption require investigation in diverse healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' awareness, knowledge, and attitudes towards EBP.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to EBP adoption among nurses.
• To assess nurses' information sources and literature searching skills.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was distributed to 2,100 registered nurses in Singapore.
• 1,486 completed questionnaires were returned, yielding a response rate of 70.8%.
• Data analysis focused on nurses' perceptions of EBP, barriers, and facilitators.

Main Results:

• Over 64% of nurses had a positive attitude towards EBP.
• Heavy workload and lack of time were significant barriers to keeping up with new evidence.
• Nurses reported moderate self-efficacy in EBP skills and desired more training and mentorship.
• Barriers included time constraints, difficulty with statistical terms, and research jargon.
• Literature searching skills were basic, with limited use of advanced search operators.

Conclusions:

• Nurses in Singapore demonstrate a positive attitude towards EBP but face substantial barriers to adoption.
• Comprehensive strategies, including targeted training and mentorship, are needed to build EBP competencies.
• Hospital libraries should enhance information literacy programs to support nurses in EBP.