Barriers to the Adoption of Evidence Based Practice in Nursing: a Focus Group Study

Abstract

Background: Evidence Based Practice is considered a complex process with many factors hindering its implementation. The use of focus groups to detect barriers to its application can provide an in-depth investigation of the phenomenon. Objective: The investigation of nurses’ views regarding the obstacles connected to the implementation of Evidence Based Practice. Methods: This is a qualitative study carried out using focus groups and constitutes the continuation of a quantitative study. Deliberate sampling was used to recruit a total of 31 nurses. Results: The main categories that emerged regarding the obstacles in the implementation of Evidence Based Practice in nursing, concerned the lack of logistical support, the difficulty of accessing data, the insufficient knowledge of nurses as well as their attitude, the nature of the work, the decision-making process and the impossibility of safeguarding decisions made. Conclusion: In this study, various factors were identified that affect the application of Evidence Based Practice, in the nursing environment of Cyprus. Identifying these factors can be the basis for discussions and finding ways to resolve the problems that exist by health care managers.