Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to understand clinical nurses' level of information retrieval skill and its influence on evidence based practice (EBP).
METHODS
A cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected from a convenient sample of 492 nurses working at 5 university hospitals in Korea. The Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and hierarchical multiple linear regression.
RESULTS
The mean score for information retrieval skill and EBP competency were respectively 2.81+/-0.64 and 3.98+/-0.86. Two step hierarchical regression analysis showed that attendance at academic conference (p=.036) and information retrieval skill (p<.001) were significant factors of EBP competency, information retrieval skill explained about 19% of total variance of EBP competency.
CONCLUSION
Nurse need to increased fundamental information retrieval skill for EBP competency. Therefore, it is important to increase nurses' information retrieval skills by tailoring continuing EBP education modules. It would be also advisable to develop centralized systems for the internal dissemination of research findings for the use of nursing staff.