Hospital Nurses' Uses of Evidence, and Barriers to and Enablers of Evidenced-based Practice

Hwang, Jee In

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore nurses' experience of evidence-based nursing practice in general hospitals.
METHODS
Data were collected from 13 nurses through in-depth interviews about their experiences with evidence-based practice. The research questions were "What kind of evidence are you using in your practice?" and "What are the barriers to and enablers of evidence-based practice that you have experienced?" Qualitative data from field and transcribed notes were analyzed using qualitative content analysis methodology.
RESULTS
Major themes of using evidence were identified as 'research as primary valid evidence', 'information from local context and internet as realistic evidence', and 'clinical experience as pragmatic evidence'. Patient experience was not used as evidence in solving nursing problems. Barriers to and enablers of evidence-based practice were linked. They included both external, organizational factors and individual factors. Main issues were 'lack of evidence and poor work environment', and major facilitating factors were 'improving knowledge and skills related to evidence-based practice' and 'communicating and sharing evidence'.
CONCLUSION
The study findings provide useful information for understanding nurses' experience of using external and internal evidence along with their meaning. A multidimensional approach is needed to overcome barriers to and implement evidence-based practice.