title: Perception of evidence-based practice and the professional environment of primary health care nurses in the Spanish context: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study of the factors that encourage evidence-based clinical practice, such as structure, environment and professional skills, has contributed to an improvement in quality of care. Nevertheless, most of this research has been carried out in a hospital context, neglecting the area of primary health care. The main aim of this work was to assess the factors that influence an evidence-based clinical practice among nursing professionals in Primary Health Care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicentre cross-sectional study was designed, taking the 619 Primary Care staff nurses at the Balearic Islands' Primary Health Care Service, as the study population. The methodology applied consisted on a self-administered survey using the instruments Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ) and Nursing Work Index (NWI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and seventy seven surveys were received (60.9% response rate). Self-assessment of skills and knowledge, obtained 66.6% of the maximum score. The Knowledge/Skills factor obtained the best scores among the staff with shorter professional experience. There was a significant difference in the Attitude factor (p = 0.008) in favour of nurses with management functions, as opposed to clinical nurses.Multivariate analysis showed a significant positive relationship between NWI and level of evidence-based practice (p < 0,0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Institutions ought to undertake serious reflection on the lack of skills of senior nurses about Evidence-Based Clinical Practice, even when they have more professional experience. Leadership emerge as a key role in the transferral of knowledge into clinical practice.
authors: Primary Health Care, Balearic Islands Health Service, Spain.
authors: Susana
authors: S
authors: González-Torrente
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Pericas-Beltrán
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Bennasar-Veny
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Adrover-Barceló
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Morales-Asencio
authors: Joan
authors: J
authors: De Pedro-Gómez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D059017:Primary Care Nursing; D013030:Spain; D017132:Workplace