Perception of Belgian nurses about evidence-based clinical practice implementation: a focus group study

Abstract

Background/objectives: Despite recommendations to integrate evidence-based practice into nursing care, evidence-based nursing (EBN) implementation is generally lacking. Strategies for developing an EBN implementation plan require an evaluation of nurses’ needs and expectations. The aim of this study was to evaluate how Belgian nurses perceive EBN.Methods: Descriptive qualitative data were obtained via focus groups. Fifty-six nurses took part in the study and were assigned to one of seven focus groups based on their work setting and the local language.Results: The main results revealed little familiarity with the EBN concept. There were a number of reported barriers to integrating EBN into practice: lack of time; lack of skills needed to find, process, and apply information; lack of support from management; and lack of recognition of the nursing profession.Conclusion: Participants identified four strategies for facilitating EBN development: specific staff dedicated to supporting EBN implementation; an interactive web-based platform to help nurses find, select, and interpret relevant scientific sources; an electronic tool to help nurses in clinical decision-making based on patients’ clinical data; and a change in clinical culture to include EBN in decision-making processes.