Evidence-Based Practice Attitudes of Neonatal Nurses: A Multicenter Study on the Examination of Internal and External Factors

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the internal and external factors affecting the attitudes of neonatal intensive care nurses toward evidence-based practices (EBP). Methods: The population of this descriptive, cross-sectional, and relation-seeking multicenter study consisted of nurses working in 5 neonatal intensive care units located in 3 provinces of Türkiye. Data were collected using the Information Form, which included nurses' sociodemographic information and internal-external factors affecting evidence-based care practices, the Evidence-Based Nursing Attitude Questionnaire (EBNAQ). Results: It was found that sociodemographic characteristics of nurses impacted the EBNAQ score. Of the internal factors, knowledge of EBP, having a sufficient foreign language level to follow EBP, self-efficacy in the process of seeking, finding, evaluating, and applying evidence, belief in the necessity of using EBP in nursing care, belief that cultural differences affect EBP, and belief that EBP negatively affect individualized care affected the EBNAQ score. In terms of external factors, the competence of the study team in searching evidence, the employment institution supporting the team in the use of EBP, and using clinical guidelines in neonatal care impacted the EBNAQ score. Conclusion: It was concluded that neonatal nurses' attitudes toward evidence-based nursing are at a moderate level and are affected by internal and external factors.