Factors Influencing Evidence-Based Nursing: A Qualitative Study

Nursing profession efforts is to establish the practice on evidence-based research. There has been a wide gap between the practice-based nursing and research-based nursing evidence in Iran. However, there is lack of research on the factors influencing evidence-based nursing and its barriers in Iran. This study was conducted to investigate the f actors as facilitators and inhibitors of Evidence Based Nursing (EBN). Grounded theory methodology was used for analyzing the participant's experiences and their viewpoints regarding Evidence-Based Nursing and the related factors. Semi-structured interviews and observation were conducted in the hospitals of Kashan University of Medical Sciences to gather the data until data saturation. Constant comparative analysis method was used to analyze the data. Twenty one participants including nurses, head nurses, matrons and nurse educators were interviewed. The mean of the participant's occupation service experience was 4.7 ± -9.9 years. Two main categories emerged from the data as "the meaning of EBN," and "factors affecting EBN." From the participant's perspective, EBN was defined as "caring the patients based on the nurse's professional knowledge to respond the patient's needs instead of physicians orders." The second category consisted of six subcategories including "possessing professional knowledge and skills," "time availability and opportunity," "become accustomed to," "self-confidence," "the process of nursing education," and "the work environment." Although the nurses professional knowledge, self-confidence and the process of their education influence on the manner of nurses functioning, however, the work environment and its induced expectations were emerged as the most important variables affecting EBN. Although professional knowledge and self-confidence of the nurses with the process of nursing education system influence on nursing care quality but the work environment and its induced expectations, are the most important factors that influence on evidence-based nursing. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the work environment and the nursing education system to develop an organizational personal expectations for creating an opportunity of caring based on the best research-based professional knowledge.