title: Relationships between evidence-based practice, quality improvement and clinical error experience of nurses in Korean hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated individual and work-related factors associated with nurses' perceptions of evidence-based practice (EBP) and quality improvement (QI), and the relationships between evidence-based practice, quality improvement and clinical errors.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Understanding the factors affecting evidence-based practice and quality improvement activities and their relationships with clinical errors is important for designing strategies to promote evidence-based practice, quality improvement and patient safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 594 nurses in two Korean teaching hospitals using the evidence-based practice Questionnaire and quality improvement scale developed in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred and forty-three nurses (74.6%) returned the completed survey. Nurses' ages and educational levels were significantly associated with evidence-based practice scores whereas age and job position were associated with quality improvement scores. There were positive, moderate correlations between evidence-based practice and quality improvement scores. Nurses who had not made any clinical errors during the past 12 months had significantly higher quality improvement skills scores than those who had.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicated the necessity of educational support regarding evidence-based practice and quality improvement for younger staff nurses who have no master degrees. Enhancing quality improvement skills may reduce clinical errors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse managers should consider the characteristics of their staff when implementing educational and clinical strategies for evidence-based practice and quality improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jee-In
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing and Systems Biomedical Informatics Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeoun-Ae
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: evidence‐based practice; medical errors; nursing; quality improvement