Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills Toward Adopting Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Decision-Making of Registered Nurses in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is generally recognized as a fundamental tenet of cost-effective and high-quality patient care. Nurses must be engaged with the appropriate attitude and educated with essential competencies to implement EBP systematically into their daily practice. This study assessed the attitudes, knowledge, and skills of registered nurses toward the adoption of EBP in making clinical decisions in their practice. This quantitative, crosssectional study surveyed a convenience sample of 312 nurses from five regions in Saudi Arabia from October 2019 to December 2019. The majority of nurses were unknowledgeable about the acceptable definition of EBP. The highest overall mean score was reported in the motivation subscale, followed by the skill and barrier subscales. The attitude subscale received the lowest overall mean score, which denotes a positive attitude. The nationality, level of nursing education, and years of experience had significant multivariate effects on nurses' EBP skills. Consequently, designation and EBP training had significant multivariate effects on nurses' perceived barriers to EBP adoption. Nurses lack EBP knowledge. Nonetheless, they are motivated with positive attitudes to implement EBP in their professional practice if they are given adequate training and resources, sufficient time and managerial support, and mentoring from nurses with adequate EBP experience. Heightening the understanding and utilization of the best available scientific resources about EBP into nurses' daily clinical decision and practice is essential.