title: [How nurses update their knowledge: a survey in three north Italian hospitals].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence based nursing (EBN) implies the application of the best knowledge to clinical practice but nurses may rely on different sources of knowledge.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To gain knowledge on methods and sources nurses use to update their knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self completed closed question questionnaire was administered to the nursing personnel of three north Italian hospitals. For each item a level of agreement (never (0) always, 5) was expressed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 2642 questionnaires, 1549 (58.5%) were completed. Nurses mostly rely on their experience (mean 4), information obtained from protocols and guidelines (mean 3.94) and during basic education (mean 3.82). Nurses that had attended courses of research or EBN read more frequently articles published in nursing or medical journals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experience an important source of knowledge and education to research or EBN may impact on how nurses update their knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Ricercatore, Università di Bologna.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiari
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gianesini
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loglisci
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pizzuto
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mosci
mesh_terms: D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires