Development and Validation of an Evidence-Based Practice Instrument for Nursing Students Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior.
OBJECTIVE
This study developed and validated a theory of planned behavior (TPB)-based self-report instrument to measure nursing students' attitudes toward evidence-based practice (EBP), perceived support, self-efficacy, and implementation of EBP.


METHODS
There were 348 nursing students at 1 university who completed the measure as a pretest at the beginning of a course designed to teach them about EBP; 164 at the end of the course as a posttest.


RESULTS
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students reported higher EBP implementation scores than Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) students who, in turn, had higher scores than prespecialty students. At the pretest, self-efficacy and network support accounted for 31% of the variance in EBP implementation.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence provides initial support for the reliability and validity of this 4-part EBP instrument based on the TPB.
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Richard
R
Watters
Elizabeth R
ER
Moore
Kenneth
K
Wallston
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004521:Educational Measurement; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult