Abstract
More than 25 years have already passed since research utilization has been discussed in the nursing literature with enhanced enthusiasm and demands for using research findings into practice. Moreover, the movement of evidence-based practice which started in 1990s has underlined the significance of integrating research utilization in practice. The aim of this work was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of nurses towards evidence based practice and factors influencing them. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study, carried out at Yanbu General Hospital in kingdom of Saudi Arabia. collection of data was carried out over a period of 3 months. Results: Study was carried out on 156 nurses, the response rate was 52%, participants below 30 years old were 134 (85.9%), those 30 -40 years old were 16 (10.3%) and those above 40 years old were 6 (3.8%). They were 145 (92.9%) female nurses and 11(7.1%) male, the majority 120 (77%) were registered nurses and the majority 103 (66%) were earned diploma of nursing as their highest education, Most of them 113 (72.4%) work for more than 40 hours per week, the majority 124 (79.1%) have less than 5 years of experience. Studying factors influencing KAP of EBP among nurses revealed non significant difference between nurses either due to educational level or nationality neither in knowledge of terms related E.B.P., Attitude toward E.B.P. and practice of E.B.P. between bachelor earned and diploma, no difference between Saudian and non Saudian nurses as regards knowledge related E.B.P. Whereas Attitude of Saudian nurses toward E.B.P. shows significantly lower percentage than non Saudian, also practice of E.B.P. shows significantly higher percent of non Saudian (60.5%) their sum of self reported practice was always, versus 39.5% of Saudian. Age group difference for knowledge about E.B.P. related terms shows significantly increase percent of knowledge. Attitude towards E.B.P. significantly increase with age. Although self reported practice increase with age yet no significant difference observed.
Conclusion: The observed lack of the required knowledge and practice of evidence based practice among nurses in the current study raise the issue of applying evidence based practice in hospitals and other health care facilities and assessing that during reviewing the health institution for renewal of license or accreditation. [Hanan S. Ez elarab; Soad A. El Salam; Sahar G. Behalik and Hadeel E. Eltayeb. Nurses, Practice, Knowledge and Attitude towards Evidence-Based Practice at Yanbu general hospital -kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Life Sci J 2012; 9(3):1062-1071]. (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 149