Factors that affect nurse practitioners' implementation of evidence-based practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Outcomes Research

Background:

• Evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial for enhancing patient care.
• Understanding factors influencing nurse practitioners' (NPs) EBP implementation is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore practice, professional, and personal variables affecting NPs' self-reported ability to implement EBP.
• To identify key determinants of EBP adoption in advanced nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• Correlational, cross-sectional survey design.
• Utilized the Evidence-Based Education Questionnaire (EBEQ) for data collection.
• Survey distributed to 1200 randomly selected practicing NPs, with 480 responses (40% rate).

Main Results:

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree correlated with higher self-perceived EBP ability compared to master's degrees.
• NPs' gender, age, weekly work hours, Magnet status designation, and academic center employment showed significant correlations with EBP scores.
• Practice location did not significantly correlate with EBP implementation ability.

Conclusions:

• The DNP degree may enhance NPs' capacity for EBP implementation.
• Demographic and practice environment factors play a role in NPs' EBP adoption.
• Findings provide a basis for strategies to increase EBP in clinical nursing settings.