Article Summary

The article, Predictors of knowledge, attitudes, use and future use of evidence-based practice among
baccalaureate nursing students at two universities, is a piece of primary research, conducted in a
quantitative fashion. It was conducted by asking a population group of nursing students to complete
a questionnaire of pre-set questions, in four distinct groups, rating questions on a scale of either one
to five, or one to six.

The purpose of the study was to identify attitudes toward evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing
students. The students selected were attending two universities in Southern California, with
population being broken down by gender, age, ethnicity, academic class level, and institution
attended.

The data, once gathered, was entered into statistical analysis software by a member of the research
team, with the entries being checked for accuracy by another researcher. The results showed that as
nursing students progress in their studies, their attitude towards, knowledge of, and intended future
use of EBP increased as their academic seniority increased, although actual application dropped
from year two to year three. It also showed that students main difficulties were the amount of
information available and determining what information was valuable.

In terms of application to nursing practice, it demonstrates the value of inculcating a culture of

embracing EBP in nursing students as this will then be taken into practice. However, it also
demonstrates the need to adequately educate students in how to adequately filter the information
available, in order to make it practical to use.

The primary weakness in the study was that it was geographically limited, but also that it was
demographically limited, as well as the quantitative nature of the research failing to provide deeper
insight into the attitudes expressed or explore why they change.