Factors Affecting Sustainable Improvement of Nurses' EBP Competency After Receiving an EBP Training Program: A...

Area of Science:

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

Background:

• Nurses' evidence-based practice (EBP) competency is crucial for enhancing patient care quality.
• EBP training programs aim to improve nurses' skills, but sustained competency improvement remains a challenge.
• Understanding factors influencing long-term EBP skill retention is vital for healthcare organizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors affecting the sustainable improvement of nurses' evidence-based practice (EBP) competency post-training.
• Identify workplace and organizational barriers to EBP skill maintenance.
• Inform strategies for effective EBP integration into clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Sequential mixed-methods study involving 37 ICU nurses in Egypt.
• Qualitative phase: Focus group interviews and content analysis to identify themes.
• Quantitative phase: Cross-sectional descriptive survey to assess motivation, self-efficacy, and self-regulation.

Main Results:

• Qualitative themes revealed challenges in the working environment, job dissatisfaction, and organizational obstacles.
• Quantitative data showed low levels of nurse motivation, self-efficacy, and self-regulation.
• Negative correlations were found between these variables and the EBP sustainability gap, with 'Sustained Implementation Support Scale' scoring highest.

Conclusions:

• Sustaining EBP competency necessitates addressing job satisfaction, workplace support, and team cohesion.
• Organizational support and leadership development are critical for integrating EBP into clinical settings.
• Enhancing nurse self-efficacy through mentorship and fostering supportive environments are key strategies for improving care quality.