Psychometric Testing of the Health Care Evidence-Based Practice Assessment Tool

Background and Purpose: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is essential to optimal health care outcomes. Interventions to improve use of evidence depend on accurate assessments from reliable, valid, and user-friendly tools. This study reports psychometric analyses from a modified version of a widely used EBP questionnaire, the information literacy for nursing practice (ILNP). Methods: After content validity assessments by nurse researchers, a convenience sample of 2,439 nurses completed the revised 23-item questionnaire. We examined internal consistency and used factor analyses to assess the factor structure. Results: A modified 4-factor model demonstrated adequate fit to the data. Cronbach's alpha was .80-.92 for the subscales. Conclusions: The shortened ILNP (renamed Healthcare EBP Assessment Tool or HEAT) demonstrated adequate content validity, construct validity, and reliability.