Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in the professional practice of nurses — an analysis of knowledge, attitudes and skills in relation to education

Introduction. Upgrading of professional qualifications on the basis of the latest scientific research is a prerequisite to the provision of top-quality nursing care.

Aim. Knowledge, attitudes and skills of polish nurses in the application of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in professional practice depending on the education held.
Material and methods. 820 nurses (19 male), 306 (37%) with medium-level medical education, 265 (32%) with bachelor’s degree, 249 (31%) with master’s degree. The standardized questionnaire Evidence-Based Practice Profile Questionnaire. α-Cronbach coefficient: 0.905. Statistical analysis: Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05), STATISTICA 12.
Results. The education of the nurses had an influence on their understanding of the term ‘EBP’ (p < 0.001). 57 nurses with a master’s degree intend to develop skills in the area of access to and evaluation of scientific evidence (p < 0.001). Nurses with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree used electronic scientific literature databases and got acquainted with the findings of research studies published (p < 0.001).
Conclusions.
1. Education affected the level of knowledge, attitudes and skills of nurses in the area of the application of EBP in professional practice.
2. Insufficient knowledge of issues related to the use of scientific evidence in everyday practice with medium-level education may result from the system of the education of nurses in Poland which had been in force prior to its entry into the European Union.
3. Irrespective of the level of education, there is a necessity of life-long updating by nurses of their knowledge in the area of EBP by participation in different forms of post-graduate education.