Determination of the intensive care nurses' attitudes towards evidence-based practices

Evidence-Based Practices makes clinical decision-making processes easier by considering the applicability, significance, and efficiency of health care. The use of Evidence-Based Practices is needed to minimize rising healthcare costs while also improving the effectiveness of the treatment provided. In accordance, the current research aims to identify the attitudes of intensive care nurses towards evidence-based nursing. This descriptive research was conducted on December 2020-June 2021 with 134 nurses working at the intensive care units of Fırat University Hospital between January-June 2021. Data was collected online by using "Nurse Introduction Form" and "Attitude towards Evidence-Based Nursing Questionnaire". The collected data was analyzed with the number, percentage, mean, Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U tests on the computer-based SPSS package program. The mean Attitude towards Evidence-Based Nursing Questionnaire score of intense care nurses is 66.35±6.22. Analyses showed that female nurses have significantly higher scores in the Evidence-Based Practice Intention subdimension compared to male nurses (p < 0.05); but the total score of Attitude towards Evidence-Based Nursing Questionnaire or other sub-dimension means did not differ. Those nurses who have experience in intensive care and profession 11 or more years had higher mean scores in Evidence-Based Nursing Related Emotions subdimension compared to nurses who have experience in intensive care and profession 10 or fewer years (p < 0.05). Based on the results, it is detected that attitudes of nurses towards Evidence-Based Nursing is positive. Furthermore, it is found that those nurses who have information about the Evidence-Based Practice had higher scores for Evidence-Based Nursing attitudes. Keywords: Evidence, Evidence-Based Practice, Nursing, Attitude, Intensive care.