Descriptive and Content Analysis of Questionnaires Used to Assess Evidence-Based Practice Among Dietitians: A Systematic Review

Abstract

BackgroundEvidence-based practice (EBP) is described as the integration of the following 3 main dimensions in health professionals’ decision making: best currently available research evidence, professional expertise, and patient’s values and circumstances. Barriers to EBP at an individual level have been assessed using questionnaires. Knowing which EBP dimensions are actually explored in these questionnaires is essential to promote EBP and its adoption. ObjectiveThe aim of this review was to identify and describe questionnaires that have been used among dietitians to evaluate knowledge, skills, attitudes, and/or behaviors related to EBP, and to perform a content analysis of these, drawn on the EBP dimensions explored. MethodsQuestionnaires were identified through a systematic review in MEDLINE, Embase and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (last search was November 2022). Eligibility criteria were studies using, evaluating, or developing questionnaires meant to evaluate knowledge, skills, attitudes, and/or behaviors related to EBP among dietitians. The content analysis was conducted to identify the EBP dimensions explored (ie, research evidence, professional expertise, and/or patient’s values and circumstances). Questionnaire items were categorized as follows: 1 sole EBP dimension, a combination of dimensions, or no identifiable dimension. ResultsThirty reports (25 studies) were included. The analysis of the 847 items extracted from the 25 questionnaires used showed that the main EBP dimension explored was the integration of research evidence into decision making, found in 75% of items, solely or in combination with another dimension. Professional expertise was explored in 18% of the items, patient’s values and circumstances were found in 3%, and the combination of these 3 dimensions was found in <1%. ConclusionsThe important imbalance of explored EBP dimensions in the questionnaires used may lead to a partial and misleading evaluation that prevents efficient strategies to foster EBP. There is an important need to develop more integrative and accurate evaluations of EBP targeting dietitians to promote and develop high-quality dietetics practice.