Readiness and leadership in evidence-based practice and knowledge management: A cross-sectional survey of nurses’ perceptions

Abstract

Although research on evidence-based practice (EBP) has been available for several decades, EBP has not been implemented successfully by nursing management. Evidence-based practice is a key area of knowledge management (KM), and EBP and KM are subject to similar challenges. However, there has only been limited research on KM and EBP within the context of nursing. The aim of this study was to describe and explain nurses’ perceptions of their own readiness for EBP, and their perceptions of the managerial and organizational support for enhancing competency and EBP. The study design was a cross-sectional survey carried out in accordance with STROBE. Data were collected from 125 nurses using two international instruments and one instrument developed for this study. The data were then analyzed using descriptive and multivariate statistics. Less than half of the nurses reported that their practices were often evidence-based, and only a third had often searched for evidence. The nurses perceived the weakest areas of management leadership to be arranging resources, solving problems and encouraging discussion in the context of EBP, and anticipation of nurses’ competency needs, ensuring competency and intervening when competency was inadequate in the context of KM. The results emphasize the need to develop nurse training, management leadership and an operational environment conducive to KM and EBP. Managers should take a more visible role in mentoring nurses for EBP and in identifying the developmental needs of nurses’ competencies.

Health care managers' competence in knowledge management: A scoping review

“…In addition, Currie et al (2007) note that line managers play a crucial role in helping, or hindering, graduate specialist practitioners transfer their learning to the clinical setting and actively develop their practical skills. In a study by Lunden et al (2021), half of the nurses shared positive perceptions of their managers' actions related to knowledge management. The responding nurses identified anticipation of nurses' competency needs, ensuring and assessing competency, and intervening when inadequacies in competence as the weakest aspects of knowledge management.…”

EBP education and skills building for leaders: An RCT to promote EBP infrastructure, process and implementation in a comprehensive cancer center

“…However, such preparation is reported as missing and needed (Lunden et al, 2020). Furthermore, rigorous research on the effects of providing formal EBP education to leaders in promoting implementation of EBP (Meza et al, 2021) is limited.…”

“…Thus, leaders need EBP and implementation science knowledge, skills, and confidence in themselves to promote a culture of EBP and a learning environment (Majers & Warshawsky, 2020 ). However, such preparation is reported as missing and needed (Lunden et al, 2020 ). Furthermore, rigorous research on the effects of providing formal EBP education to leaders in promoting implementation of EBP (Meza et al, 2021 ) is limited.…”

The effect of multicomponent approach in enhancing the level of confidence with evidence‐based practice activities and promoting evidence‐based practice culture among nurses in a clinical setting in the United Arab Emirates

“…It implies that nurses and midwives should be able to understand the value and impact of utilizing and applying research findings to their clinical roles to ensure safe and effective quality patient care. Lunden et al (2021) have identified competency in EBP as a most critical and global goal for nurses to enable a decision‐making process that promotes the best care quality provided to patients.…”