Emergency nurses’ Evidence-Based Practice attitudes, self-efficacy, knowledge, skills and behaviors before an educational intervention – Baseline of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

BackgroundEmergency nurses are expected to follow recent research findings and ensure that their practice is based on evidence. Yet, during busy work-shifts in overcrowded emergency departments, evidence-based practice (EBP) is not always implemented. AimTo describe emergency nurses’ EBP attitudes, self-efficacy, knowledge, skills and behaviours at the baseline of a RCT. MethodsA baseline study as a part of a randomised, single-blind controlled multicentre intervention trial (RCT). The study population consisted of 300 emergency nurses employed in two university hospitals’ emergency departments in Finland. The total sample size (n = 80) was estimated using a simulation approach. The data were collected from voluntary emergency nurses by using four structured questionnaires. FindingsEmergency nurses’ EBP attitudes, self-efficacy, knowledge and skills were above the average level, and their EBP behaviour was below the average level when measured with the other of the two sum variables measuring behaviour. A significant correlation was found between age, years since graduation, the length of working experience in health care and EBP attitudes, behaviour, knowledge and self-efficacy. Younger emergency nurses who had recently graduated and had shorter work experience showed more positive attitudes towards EBP than older counterparts. No correlation was found between gender, educational background or prior exposure to EBP and EBP attitudes, self-efficacy, knowledge, skills or behaviours. ConclusionsThis study showed that to promote emergency nurses’ use of EBP in future, tailored educational interventions on EBP are needed. This would ensure implementation of EBP in daily clinical practice for quality and effective patient care.