Assessing evidence-based practice competencies of undergraduate nursing students using a developed multi-criteria...

The developed multi-criteria decision analysis model was used to identify the inter-influence relationships and key factors affecting the EBP competencies of UNSs, to assess the EBP competencies of UNSs and based on these results, to formulate an improvement strategy to enhance the EBP competencies of UNSs.

EBP is considered a core competency in international nursing practice. However, few studies have developed EBP evaluation models and applied them to assessing and improving the EBP competencies of UNSs.

This is a quantitative study with multi-criteria decision-analysis model.

Firstly, the questionnaire was designed based on the characteristics of the DEMATEL and VIKOR-AS methods, which was completed by 17 nursing experts from a case hospital in Zhejiang Province, China. Subsequently, the DEMATEL method was used to analyze the inter-influence relationships among various criteria to determine their respective weights. Finally, the VIKOR method is utilized to integrate multiple criteria and their relative weights to assign comprehensive scores to each UNSs.

The use of the DEMATEL method reveals that "Knowledge (C₁)", "Mastering the basic scientific research methods during the study of the undergraduate courses (C₁₁)", "Being able to consult clinical experts appropriately when encountering problems in clinical practice (C₂₃)" _and "Understanding the importance of reading journals related to the nursing profession regularly (C₃₄)" were critical influencing factors. "Skill (C₂)," "Being able to explain the essential roles of the best research evidence in determining clinical practice (C₁₅)," "Being able to apply the collected research evidence to the individual case in nursing care (C₂₅)" _and "Paying attention to using the evidence-based nursing practice concept to determine the best clinical practice (C₃₅)" were the most influential factors. According to the VIKOR method, the performance of the UNSs in the case hospitals in terms of EBP competencies from highest to lowest was Student C, Student B and Student A. However, all of these students suffered from deficiencies at the knowledge level.

The application of the DEMATEL and VIKOR methods provides a systematic and comprehensive approach to the assessment of EBP competencies of UNSs. The lack of EBP competencies of UNSs in case hospitals is mainly reflected in knowledge level. To improve UNSs' EBP competencies, medical schools and hospital educators should propose short- and long-term strategies to improve knowledge.