Hospital nurses’ perception of evidence-based practice: A descriptive-analytical study

Evidence-based practice refers to the use of the best research evidence, personal knowledge and clinical expertise, and patients’ values and preferences for the provision of healthcare services. This study aimed to evaluate hospital nurses’ perception of evidence-based practice. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2015 on 374 nurses randomly recruited from five teaching hospitals in Ardabil and Khalkhal, Iran. Data were collected using the Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire and analyzed through the SPSS software (v. 13.0). The total mean scores of nurses’ perception of evidence-based practice and its practice, attitude, and knowledge/skills domains were 107.40±18.76, 4.66±1.34, 3.63±1.48, and 4.63±1.03, respectively. The mean scores of these domains had significant correlations with each other (P < 0.05). Nurses’ perception of evidence-based practice is at moderate level and hence, they have moderate readiness for evidence-based practice. Coherent policies, educational strategies, and environmental improvements are needed to improve nurses’ perception of evidence-based practice.