[Evidence-Based Practice competency and associated factors among Primary Care nurses in Spain]

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is crucial for quality healthcare.
• Assessing EBP competency in Primary Care (PC) nurses is essential for improving patient outcomes.
• Understanding factors influencing EBP competency can inform targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) competency level among Primary Care (PC) nurses in Spain.
• To identify sociodemographic, professional, and informational factors associated with EBP competency in PC nurses.

Main Methods:

• A national cross-sectional survey was conducted with 780 PC nurses in Spain.
• Data were collected on nurse demographics, professional characteristics, and access to scientific information.
• EBP competency (attitude, knowledge, skills, utilization) was measured using the EBP-COQ Prof© questionnaire.

Main Results:

• The overall EBP competency score averaged 131.5 (SD 17.0).
• Reading scientific articles, extensive EBP training (>150h), and mentoring nursing students were key factors influencing EBP competency.
• Higher education levels correlated with knowledge and skills, while belonging to a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO®) was linked to EBP utilization.

Conclusions:

• Findings provide insights for PC managers to develop strategies for enhancing nurses' EBP competency.
• Interventions should focus on increasing engagement with scientific literature and providing comprehensive EBP training.
• Future research should consider potential selection bias in survey results.