INTEGRATING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES TO IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES IN ACUTE CARE SETTINGS
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Keywords
Evidence-based practice, acute care, nursing practice, patient outcomes, organizational support, clinical decision-making
Abstract
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) plays a critical role in enhancing the quality and safety of patient care, particularly in acute care settings where rapid and accurate clinical decision-making is essential. However, despite its well-established benefits, the integration of EBP among nurses often varies due to individual, contextual, and organizational barriers. This study aimed to assess nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to EBP in acute care settings and to examine the relationship between EBP implementation and patient outcomes. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 85 registered nurses working in the acute care units of a tertiary hospital. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Descriptive statistics and inferential tests were employed in the analysis. The findings revealed that nurses had moderate EBP knowledge (22.14 ± 4.36), highly positive attitudes (34.71 ± 5.02), and moderate levels of EBP practice (19.85 ± 3.90). Educational qualification was significantly associated with EBP practice (p = 0.02), and nurses in ICU/HDU units demonstrated higher practice scores compared to those in general units (p = 0.01). Specialty categories such as Adult Health, Neonatal, and Geriatric/Gerontological Nursing were also examined; however, no significant association was found between specialty area and EBP practice. A strong positive correlation was found between EBP practice and patient outcomes (r = 0.71, p < 0.001). Overall, the results highlight the need to enhance organizational support, training, and facilitation to strengthen EBP adoption among nurses and thereby improve patient outcomes in acute care environments.
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Lt Col Lynette Louis
Nursing officer, 151Base Hospital, lynettelouis400@gmail.com
