Beliefs and implementation of evidence-based practice among nurses and allied healthcare providers in the Valais hospital, Switzerland.
BACKGROUND
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is upheld as a means for patients to receive the most efficient care in a given context. Despite the available evidence and positive beliefs about it, implementing EBP as standard daily practice still faces many obstacles.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the beliefs about and implementation of EBP among nurses and allied healthcare providers (AHP) in 9 acute care hospitals in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted. The target population was composed of 1899 nurses and 126 AHPs. Beliefs about and implementation of EBP were measured using EBP-Beliefs and EBP-Implementation scales of Melnyk et al.


RESULTS
The initial sample consisted in 491 participants (overall response rate 24.2%): 421 nurses (22.4% response rate) and 78 AHPs (61.9% response rate). The final sample, composed only of those who declared previous exposure to EBP, included 391 participants (329 nurses and 62 AHPs). Overall, participants had positive attitudes towards EBP and were willing to increase their knowledge to guide practice. However, they acknowledged poor implementation of EBP in daily practice. A significantly higher level of EBP implementation was declared by those formally trained in it (P = 0.006) and by those occupying more senior professional functions (P = 0.004). EBP-Belief scores predicted 13% of the variance in the EBP-Implementation scores (R2= 0.13).


CONCLUSIONS
EBP is poorly implemented despite positive beliefs about it. Continuing education and support on EBP would help to ensure that patients receive the best available care based on high-quality evidence, patient needs, clinical expertise, and a fair distribution of healthcare resources.


CONCLUSIONS
This study's results will be used to guide institutional strategy to increase the use of EBP in daily practice.
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 5, Chemin de l'Agasse, CH, -1950, Sion, Switzerland.|Department of Nursing Sciences, Valais Hospital, 86, Avenue de Grand-Champsec, CH, -1951, Sion, Switzerland.
Henk
H
Verloo
Valais Hospital, Directorate General, 86, Avenue de Grand-Champsec, CH, -1951, Sion, Switzerland.
Mario
M
Desmedt
Institut Universitaire de Formation et Recherche en Soins (IUFRS), Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne and Lausanne University Hospital, 10, Route de la Corniche, CH, -1010, Lausanne, Switzerland.|Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Diane
D
Morin
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013557:Switzerland
Evidence-based practice-EBP; Switzerland; allied health professions; beliefs; implementation; nursing; survey