Knowledge, attitude and behaviour to evidence-based practice among psychiatric nurses: A cross-sectional survey

To identify the status of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour toward evidence-based practice (EBP) among Chinese psychiatric nurses, and to examine the influencing factors of EBP behaviour.

We utilised a cross-sectional design. A total of 923 psychiatric nurses from 168 hospitals in 27 provinces in the mainland of China participated in our survey. The EBP questionnaire, the barriers to research utilisation scale and the facilitators to research utilisation scale were used for data collection via WeChat group from July 2018 to April 2019. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the influencing factors of psychiatric nurses' evidence-based practice behaviour.

The score of Chinese psychiatric nurses' EBP attitude, behaviour and knowledge were 4.81 ± 1.34, 4.11 ± 1.36 and 3.53 ± 1.29, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that nurses' EBP behaviour was mainly determined by knowledge and attitude, which together explained 61.8% of the variance. The two top barriers were the dimensions of presentation and research. Facilitators include managerial support, employing nurses with research skills as models and providing advanced education on evidence-based nursing.

Psychiatric nurses have positive attitudes toward EBP, but their level of knowledge and behaviour is insufficient. Heavy workload, insufficient time, and a lack of knowledge and skills is the main barrier. Managerial support, employing nurses with research skills as models and providing advanced education are the main facilitators.