Evidence-Based Practice Implementation in a Pediatric Inpatient Unit: Nurses' Experiences of Organizational Change.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Knowledge Translation
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Sustained implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) is challenging in clinical settings.
• Knowledge translation frameworks like the Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) model aim to integrate evidence into care.
• Limited understanding exists regarding nurses' experiences with KTA-guided implementation consolidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' experiences of practice changes and professional development after consolidating KTA-guided implementation.
• To investigate the impact of KTA implementation on pediatric inpatient nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study using two focus groups with 20 pediatric nurses.
• Data collected via videoconference one year post-implementation using semi-structured interviews.
• Thematic content analysis employed following Bardin's methodological framework.

Main Results:

• Four themes emerged: KTA's contribution to clinical context, influence on EBP competencies, impact on professional development, and organizational sustainability.
• Implementation led to a care philosophy shift, centering evidence in clinical reasoning and team alignment.
• Nurses perceived KTA implementation as influencing practice, professional interactions, and organizational routines.

Conclusions:

• KTA implementation extended beyond competence development, impacting clinical practice and organizational routines.
• Sustainability of EBP is linked to contextual adaptation, leadership alignment, and structural integration.
• Findings offer insights into mechanisms supporting durable EBP implementation in pediatric care settings.