The Relationship Between Perceived Emotional Competence and Evidence-Based Nursing: A Nationwide Non-Probabilistic...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Professional Competencies

Background:

• Evidence-Based Nursing (EBN) is crucial for high-quality patient care, yet a persistent 'know-do' gap hinders its implementation.
• Organizational barriers are frequently identified, but the impact of individual nurse competencies, particularly emotional competence, on EBN adoption is less understood.
• This study investigates the link between nurses' perceived emotional competence and their adoption of EBN.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the association between perceived Emotional Competence and Evidence-Based Nursing adoption among nurses.
• To explore the relationship between Emotional Competence, attitudes, and barriers to EBN in a national nursing sample.
• To identify individual factors that may facilitate or impede the implementation of evidence into nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study involving 3014 nurses registered with the Portuguese Order of Nurses.
• Utilized validated questionnaires to assess Emotional Competence, EBN adoption, and perceived attitudes and barriers.
• Employed bivariate correlations and multivariable linear regression for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported high levels of perceived Emotional Competence (Mean = 204.7, SD = 20.3).
• Emotional Competence was a significant and independent predictor of Evidence-Based Nursing adoption (B = 0.315, p < 0.001), even after controlling for other factors.
• Perceived organizational barriers, such as time constraints and lack of incentives, did not show a correlation with EBN adoption (rs = 0.011, p = 0.54).

Conclusions:

• Perceived Emotional Competence is a key individual factor associated with the adoption of Evidence-Based Nursing.
• The findings suggest that enhancing nurses' socio-emotional skills, including emotional regulation, could be a valuable strategy for improving evidence implementation.
• Interventions focused on developing emotional competence may help bridge the 'know-do' gap in Evidence-Based Nursing.