The effect of advanced professional programs on nurses' beliefs and implementation of evidence based practice in prince Sultan Military Medical City, Saudi Arabia

Context: Health-care systems move rapidly toward evidence-based practice (EBP); however, it is still challenging to determine if nurses who have received professional education have adopted EBP into their daily practice. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of advanced professional programs in EBP beliefs and EBP implementation in Prince Sultan Military Medical City. Setting and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 166 nurses who work at Prince Sultan Military Medical City. Subjects and Methods: Data were obtained using an adopted two questionnaires for the EBP-Beliefs and EBP-Implementation Scales. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive analysis was used to determine statistical significance and correlation between variables. Results: The mean score for EBP beliefs was 57.5 and the average score of EBP implementation was 45. A significant correlation was found between professional programs and EBP beliefs, and there were mean score differences between diploma and the other two groups (graduate and postgraduate). Conclusions: Professional programs showed a relationship with EBP beliefs; however, an increase of EBP beliefs does not always imply an increment on EBP implementation. Despite some obstacle factors such as lack of mentorship and training programs, EBP can benefit from advanced professional nursing programs, as believing of EBP importance increase with higher nurses' education level which can affect positively on patients' outcomes.