EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE UTILIZATION AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG NURSES IN WOLLAYTA SODO UNIVERSITY COMPRHENSIVE SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL AND HALABA KULITO GENERAL HOSPITAL, SOUTH ETHIOPIA, 2023

Abstract

Background: Evidence-based practice is the thoughtful, concise, and prudent use of the most recent, best evidence when making decisions about the care of the specific patient. The EBP paradigm for healthcare professionals is an important means to improve the quality of patient care, but its implementation is still lacking. Objective: To assess evidence-based practice utilization and its associated factors in Wollayta Sodo University Comprehensive & Specialized Hospital and Halaba Kulito General Hospital, South Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in Wollayta Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Halaba Kulito general hospital, of south region from May 17 to Jun 18 2023.418 BSc nurses was involved in the study. Simple random sampling technique was employed for the study. Self administered questioners used to collect data. Data was collected by data collectors. Descriptive analysis was done. The collected data was entered to Epi data version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 25 statistical software package. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was done. having a p value of <0.05 with Adjusted ORs together with its corresponding 95% CIs was taken to measure the level of significance of the association. Results From 418 proposed nurses, 382 of them completed the questionnaire giving 91.4% response rate. Of these, 56% of them had good evidence-based practice utilization. Variables including good knowledge (AOR =6.88: 95% CI: 4.324–10.942), EBP training (AOR = 1.78:95% CI: 1.11–2.855) and level of confidence (AOR = 2.19: 95% CI: 1.22–3.929) were found to be predictors of evidence-based practice utilization. Conclusions The study revealed that evidence-based practice utilization among nurses is relatively low. Nurses need to give attention to level of confidence along with their EBP; Hospitals need to manage to provide training about evidence practice which raises level of utilization.