Evidence-based practice beliefs, competence, and implementation of nurses practicing in the Ilocos Region / Bernardo Oliber A. Arde, Jr.

Dissertation (Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing) -- Saint Louis University, January 2018.

Evidence-Based practice (EBP) has been a professional expectation from nurses in
the 21century health service arena. The plethora of literature indicates that nurses' interest in this
standard of care is increasing globally. However, as the world acclaims its importance in various
practice disciplines like nursing, the progress of EBP is slow and challenging in developing
countries. Although efforts have been made to at least introduce EBP in the practice setting, little
to no studies have been forwarded as to how valuable EBP is in the perspective of its direct
implementers in the Philippine setting. Existing literature holds the absence of information about
Filipino nurses' EBP beliefs, implementation and perceived competence.

The purpose of this study is to assess the EBP beliefs, implementation and perceived
competence of staff nurses practicing in the [locos region and to present an action plan that would
enhance their belief, perceived competence and implementation of EBP.

A sample size of 384 nurses was surveyed in this cross-sectional, descriptive
correlational study. They were selected through simple random sampling in seven (7) different
government and private training hospitals in the Ilocos Region. The EBP Beliefs Scale (EBPB),
EBP Implementation Scale (EBPI) and the Capability Beliefs Regarding Evidence-Based Practice
scale were employed to collect the data on the respondents' EBP Beliefs, Implementation and
Perceived EBP Competence, respectively. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics
such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation; and inferential statistics such as
Spearman rank correlation.
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The respondents have no full commitment or belief to EBP but the possibility exists based
on the mean total score computed at 58.57 (SD= 6.86) and scores ranging from 28 to 76 (with
possible scores 16-80). The overall mean rating is reported at 3.63 (SD= 0.42) signifying that they
"Agree" on the statements in the EBPB scale in general. On the EBP implementation, a low mean
summative score of 28.06 (SD=l5.47) indicated that the respondents have implemented EBP
between 1-3 but less than 4 times in the past eight (8) weeks. Raw scores ranged from I to 70
(possible scores of 0-72). The overall mean rating was calculated at 1.56 (SD= 0.21) suggestive
that EBP is "Rarely implemented". A mean score across the six items of the Capability Beliefs
Regarding Evidence-Based Practice Scale was computed at 3.46 (SD = 0.08) suggests that the
respondents perceived themselves as "Good" in carrying out EBP process.

A weak positive correlation existed between EBP Beliefs and EBP Implementation of the
respondents (r,(382) = 0.252,p < 0.001); moderate positive correlation between the respondents'
EBP beliefs and their perceived level of EBP competence (rs (382) = .413, p <0.001); and signifies
a moderate positive correlation between EBP implementation and perceived level of EBP
competence (r, (382) = .530,p <0.001).

This study revealed that nurses in the locos region are positive about their knowledge
of, confidence in and belief about EBP but are not fully committal to it. Also, they view themselves
as having the desired skills in carrying out EBP activities that need to be mastered. However, in
spite of having positive attitudes and perceiving themselves as competent, their implementation of
EBP was rare or low. The study was able to elicit also that a positive correlation exist between and
among EBP beliefs, EBP implementation and the respondents' perceived level of EBP
competence. These data served as essential bases for developing strategies that would solidify the
nurses' beliefs and perceived competence as well as improve their actualization of EBP as
presented in the action plan.