Development and psychometric properties of the evidence-based professional practice scale (EBPP-S).
OBJECTIVE
Evidence based-practice (EBP) is now being integrated into many systems of health care. To date, little research has been conducted in Puerto Rico regarding EBP. A brief measure of health provider for Evidence Based Professional Practice-Scale (EBPP-S) was developed to measure attitudes, behaviors and knowledge.


METHODS
The study consisted in two phases. In the first phase the scale was developed and exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were conducted (n = 65). In the second phase, the EFA model was tested in another sample (n = 86) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Both samples were drawn from mental health service providers.


RESULTS
Three factors of the EBPP-S were identified in the first phase (1) attitudes, (2) behaviors, and (3) knowledge. The internal reliability for the 43-item scale using the Cronbach's a was .93. The principal dimensions of the scale were analyzed using a CFA. A three-factor model with 17 items was supported by the data. The results showed an internal consistency of .88 for the 17-item version of the scale.


CONCLUSIONS
The preliminary results for the EBPP-S are promising and the use of this scale to measure evidence based-practice is discussed.
Department of Psychology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico. gbernal@ipsi.uprrp.edu
Guillermo
G
Bernal
Nayra del C
Ndel C
Rodríguez-Soto
D000328:Adult; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult