title: Evidence based practice beliefs and implementation among nurses: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Having a positive attitude towards evidence-based practice and being able to see the value of evidence-based practice for patients have been reported as important for the implementation of evidence-based practice among nurses.The aim of this study was to map self-reported beliefs towards EBP and EBP implementation among nurses, and to investigate whether there was a positive correlation between EBP beliefs and EBP implementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a cross-sectional study among 356 nurses at a specialist hospital for the treatment of cancer in Norway. The Norwegian translations of the Evidence-based Practice Belief Scale and the Evidence-based Practice Implementation Scale were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 185 nurses participated in the study (response rate 52%). The results showed that nurses were positive towards evidence-based practice, but only practised it to a small extent. There was a positive correlation (r) between beliefs towards evidence-based practice and implementation of evidence-based practice (r = 0.59, p = 0.001).There was a statistical significant positive, but moderate correlation between all the four subscales of the EBP Beliefs Scale (beliefs related to: 1) knowledge, 2) resources, 3) the value of EBP and 4) difficulty and time) and the EBP Implementation Scale, with the highest correlation observed for beliefs related to knowledge (r = 0.38, p < .0001). Participants who had learned about evidence-based practice had significantly higher scores on the Evidence-based Practice Belief Scale than participants who were unfamiliar with evidence-based practice. Those involved in evidence-based practice working groups also reported significantly higher scores on the Evidence-based Practice Belief Scale than participants not involved in these groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that nurses have a positive attitude towards evidence-based practice, but practise it to a lesser extent. There was a positive correlation between beliefs about evidence-based practice and implementation of evidence-based practice. Beliefs related to knowledge appear to have the greatest effect on implementation of evidence-based practice. Having knowledge and taking part in evidence-based practice working groups seem important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, Surgery and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital, Postbox 4953- Nydalen, Oslo N-0424, Norway. KjerstiStokkeKST@ous-hf.no.
authors.forename: Kjersti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stokke
authors.forename: Nina R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Espehaug
authors.forename: Monica W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Nortvedt