A pre-experimental pilot study exploring EBP Beliefs and EBP Implementation among post-graduate student nurses in Saudi Arabia.

Aim: This study aimed to measure the impact of a dedicated EBP module on the knowledge, skills and capability for EBP of students undertaking the inaugural MSc in Nursing: Advanced Practice programme in the KSA.

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) yields multiple benefits for all key stakeholders of healthcare. Key to this are healthcare professionals armed with necessary EBP knowledge and skills. Nurses, the largest professional group in healthcare, can be instrumental in effecting sustained EBP implementation. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) achieving this is hindered by a chronic shortage of nurses and a heavy reliance on expatriate nurses who are often a transient workforce, resulting in a high turnover. The Government of Saudi Arabia 2030 Vision aspires to address the indigenous nurse shortage and the quality of healthcare. In 2017 the inaugural MSc in Nursing: Advanced Practice programme was established in the KSA to prepare Saudi nurses for emerging advanced practice roles. A dedicated EBP module was a core component of the programme.

Methods: A pre-experimental pilot study conducted over 18-months collected data from the same participants at three different points. Two validated EBP questionnaires measuring EBP Beliefs and EBP Implementation were administered to post-graduate students undertaking the MSc in Nursing: Advanced Practice programme in one Higher Education Institution in the KSA. Descriptive, inferential and correlational statistics were employed to analyse the demographic data, group mean scores and distribution on the EBP scales, as well the correlation between EBP Beliefs and EBP Implementation.

Findings: Findings demonstrated that the educational intervention did improve participants' EBP beliefs and implementation. Participants reported positive beliefs about EBP at all 3 data collection points (M = 57.4 SD = 7.0; M = 62.54 SD = 7.21; M = 55.31 SD = 15.81, respectively). EBP implementation was low prior to undertaking the module but improved thereafter as illustrated across the 3 data collection points (M = 15.14 SD = 11.9; M = 27.64 SD = 14.35; M = 25.9 SD = 20.43). On both measures, higher scores indicate higher EBP beliefs and implementation.

Conclusion: This study established the EBP Beliefs and EBP Implementation of a sample of postgraduate nursing students in the KSA. Findings revealed a substantial improvement in both EBP Beliefs and EBP Implementation following the EBP module. Findings support the use of a dedicated module to prepare nurses to use EBP and to practice at an advanced level while simultaneously preparing them for leadership roles in healthcare in KSA. In so doing, this will help to advance the healthcare goals of the KSA 2030 vision.