Volume 16, Issue 3 p. 176-185
Evidence Review

Practicing Healthcare Professionals’ Evidence-Based Practice Competencies: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

Hannele Saunders PhD, MS, MPH, RN

Corresponding Author

Hannele Saunders PhD, MS, MPH, RN

Post-Doctoral Researcher, Research Manager

Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Science, Kuopio, Finland

Address correspondence to Hannele Saunders, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, POB 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
Lynn Gallagher-Ford PhD, RN, DPFNAP, NE-BC, FAAN

Lynn Gallagher-Ford PhD, RN, DPFNAP, NE-BC, FAAN

Senior Director, Associate Professor

The Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for Evidence-Based Practice & Healthcare

The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, OH, USA

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Tarja Kvist PhD, RN

Tarja Kvist PhD, RN

Assistant Professor

Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

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Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen PhD, RN, FEANS

Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen PhD, RN, FEANS

Professor

Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kuopio University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

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First published: 10 May 2019
Citations: 85
This research was supported by grants awarded to Dr. Saunders from the Finnish Work Environment Fund, which are gratefully acknowledged.

Abstract

Background

Evidence-based practice (EBP) competencies are essential for all practicing healthcare professionals to provide evidence-based, quality care, and improved patient outcomes. The multistep EBP implementation process requires multifaceted competencies to successfully integrate best evidence into daily healthcare delivery.

Aims

To summarize and synthesize the current research literature on practicing health professionals’ EBP competencies (i.e., their knowledge, skills, attitudes, beliefs, and implementation) related to employing EBP in clinical decision-making.

Design

An overview of systematic reviews.

Methods

PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched on practicing healthcare professionals’ EBP competencies published in January 2012–July 2017. A total of 3,947 publications were retrieved, of which 11 systematic reviews were eligible for a critical appraisal of methodological quality. Three independent reviewers conducted the critical appraisal using the Rapid Critical Appraisal tools developed by the Helene Fuld National Institute for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare.

Results

Practicing healthcare professionals’ self-reported EBP knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs were at a moderate to high level, but they did not translate into EBP implementation. Considerable overlap existed in the source studies across the included reviews. Few reviews reported any impact of EBP competencies on changes in care processes or patient outcomes. Most reviews were methodologically of moderate quality. Significant variation in study designs, settings, interventions, and outcome measures in the source studies precluded any comparisons of EBP competencies across healthcare disciplines.

Linking Evidence to Action

As EBP is a shared competency, the development, adoption, and use of an EBP competency set for all healthcare professionals are a priority along with using actual (i.e., performance-based), validated outcome measures. The widespread misconceptions and misunderstandings that still exist among large proportions of practicing healthcare professionals about the basic concepts of EBP should urgently be addressed to increase engagement in EBP implementation and attain improved care quality and patient outcomes.