Adherence to evidence-based practice across healthcare professionals in Germany: results from a cross-sectional, nationwide survey
Abstract Background Adherence to evidence-based practice (EBP) is considered a key competence to improve healthcare quality. In this study, we aimed to describe the EBP adherence of healthcare professionals working in Germany and to explore barriers and facilitators regarding the implementation of E...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08682-z |
| _version_ | 1811192467923402752 |
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| author | Katja Ehrenbrusthoff Tobias Braun Carolin Bahns Lisa Happe Christian Kopkow |
| author_facet | Katja Ehrenbrusthoff Tobias Braun Carolin Bahns Lisa Happe Christian Kopkow |
| author_sort | Katja Ehrenbrusthoff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Adherence to evidence-based practice (EBP) is considered a key competence to improve healthcare quality. In this study, we aimed to describe the EBP adherence of healthcare professionals working in Germany and to explore barriers and facilitators regarding the implementation of EBP in clinical practice. Methods A nationwide online survey was performed among healthcare professionals in Germany from January to April 2018 using the German version of the Evidence-based Practice Inventory (EBPI) questionnaire for a comprehensive assessment of adherence to EBP. Univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the association between demographic and professional determinants and each EBPI dimension. Results We analysed data of 889 participants, including 318 physical therapists, 154 occupational therapists, 137 midwifes and 280 participants of six other healthcare professions. Approximately 70% of the participants generally demonstrated a positive attitude towards EBP and believed that EBP was useful in clinical practice. Broadly, 80% of the respondents evaluated themselves as being able to enact EBP behaviour in clinical practice. In contrast, less than 70% preferred to use quantitative information instead of their intuition to inform their habitual clinical behaviour. Still, 20 to 30% reported that EBP did not sufficiently account for their clinical experience and differences between patients. The strongest facilitators to EBP adherence across at least three dimensions of the EBPI were the availability of ≥ 60 min for scientific literature at work (OR: 9.67; 95% CI: 5.86; 16.30), followed by a master or higher academic degree (OR: 9.09, 95% CI: 5.86; 14.28) and the involvement in ≥ 1 scientific publication (OR: 7.06, 95% CI: 5.10; 9.85). Conclusions This study showed that healthcare professionals in Germany in general had a positive attitude towards EBP although they currently do not consider EBP principles in its entirety. The most important determinant positively influencing a healthcare professional’s decision to perform EBP was the time available for scientific literature at work. German healthcare professionals experience similar barriers towards the implementation of EBP in clinical practice compared to other international healthcare settings. These barriers should be targeted by future research. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00013792). Registered 19 January 2018. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:53:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7efa07e68d084d1caa9c79daf580b311 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:53:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-7efa07e68d084d1caa9c79daf580b3112022-12-22T03:56:26ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632022-10-0122111310.1186/s12913-022-08682-zAdherence to evidence-based practice across healthcare professionals in Germany: results from a cross-sectional, nationwide surveyKatja Ehrenbrusthoff0Tobias Braun1Carolin Bahns2Lisa Happe3Christian Kopkow4Department of Applied Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Hochschule Für Gesundheit (University of Applied Sciences)Department of Applied Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Hochschule Für Gesundheit (University of Applied Sciences)Department of Therapy Science I, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus – SenftenbergDepartment for Health Services Research, Assistance Systems and Medical Device Technology, Carl Von Ossietzky University OldenburgDepartment of Therapy Science I, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus – SenftenbergAbstract Background Adherence to evidence-based practice (EBP) is considered a key competence to improve healthcare quality. In this study, we aimed to describe the EBP adherence of healthcare professionals working in Germany and to explore barriers and facilitators regarding the implementation of EBP in clinical practice. Methods A nationwide online survey was performed among healthcare professionals in Germany from January to April 2018 using the German version of the Evidence-based Practice Inventory (EBPI) questionnaire for a comprehensive assessment of adherence to EBP. Univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the association between demographic and professional determinants and each EBPI dimension. Results We analysed data of 889 participants, including 318 physical therapists, 154 occupational therapists, 137 midwifes and 280 participants of six other healthcare professions. Approximately 70% of the participants generally demonstrated a positive attitude towards EBP and believed that EBP was useful in clinical practice. Broadly, 80% of the respondents evaluated themselves as being able to enact EBP behaviour in clinical practice. In contrast, less than 70% preferred to use quantitative information instead of their intuition to inform their habitual clinical behaviour. Still, 20 to 30% reported that EBP did not sufficiently account for their clinical experience and differences between patients. The strongest facilitators to EBP adherence across at least three dimensions of the EBPI were the availability of ≥ 60 min for scientific literature at work (OR: 9.67; 95% CI: 5.86; 16.30), followed by a master or higher academic degree (OR: 9.09, 95% CI: 5.86; 14.28) and the involvement in ≥ 1 scientific publication (OR: 7.06, 95% CI: 5.10; 9.85). Conclusions This study showed that healthcare professionals in Germany in general had a positive attitude towards EBP although they currently do not consider EBP principles in its entirety. The most important determinant positively influencing a healthcare professional’s decision to perform EBP was the time available for scientific literature at work. German healthcare professionals experience similar barriers towards the implementation of EBP in clinical practice compared to other international healthcare settings. These barriers should be targeted by future research. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00013792). Registered 19 January 2018.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08682-zEvidence-based practiceEvidence-based medicineHealthcare professionalExploratory regression analysisPhysical TherapyOccupational therapy |
| spellingShingle | Katja Ehrenbrusthoff Tobias Braun Carolin Bahns Lisa Happe Christian Kopkow Adherence to evidence-based practice across healthcare professionals in Germany: results from a cross-sectional, nationwide survey BMC Health Services Research Evidence-based practice Evidence-based medicine Healthcare professional Exploratory regression analysis Physical Therapy Occupational therapy |
| title | Adherence to evidence-based practice across healthcare professionals in Germany: results from a cross-sectional, nationwide survey |
| title_full | Adherence to evidence-based practice across healthcare professionals in Germany: results from a cross-sectional, nationwide survey |
| title_fullStr | Adherence to evidence-based practice across healthcare professionals in Germany: results from a cross-sectional, nationwide survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adherence to evidence-based practice across healthcare professionals in Germany: results from a cross-sectional, nationwide survey |
| title_short | Adherence to evidence-based practice across healthcare professionals in Germany: results from a cross-sectional, nationwide survey |
| title_sort | adherence to evidence based practice across healthcare professionals in germany results from a cross sectional nationwide survey |
| topic | Evidence-based practice Evidence-based medicine Healthcare professional Exploratory regression analysis Physical Therapy Occupational therapy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08682-z |
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