Readiness of novice nurses for evidence-based practice in the United Arab Emirates: A national survey

Abstract

Novice nurses’ knowledge and confidence in evidence-based practice (EBP) competencies raise critical questions about the preparedness of new healthcare professionals in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. Despite the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) strategic direction towards EBP, there is a notable gap in understanding how well novice nurses are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement EBP effectively. The objective was to investigate nursing students and novice nurses’ knowledge and confidence in EBP competencies in the UAE. A quantitative correlational design was used in this cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of 161 nursing students and novice nurses recruited from two nursing schools and nine public healthcare facilities in the UAE, using the ACE-ERI questionnaire. The nurses scored low in the EBP knowledge test (5.89, SD=2.06) and had above-average self-reported confidence in EBP competencies (84.69, SD=19.20). Pearson’s coefficient marked a significant weak negative correlation between the participants’ EBP knowledge and their self-reported confidence in EBP competencies (-0.20, p<0.05). The years of nursing experience were positively associated; the nursing experience had a significantly negative association with the EBP confidence of the respondents. Our findings suggest that the undergraduate nursing curriculum could benefit from incorporating the EBP concepts and competency and introducing those as early in education as possible to increase the students’ exposure to EBP.