Evaluation of a Hospital-Based Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Mentorship Program on Improving Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Evidence-Based Practice

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a core requirement for nurses, contributing toward better clinical outcomes. Mentorship could prepare early adopters of EBP to create an EBP culture. Method: Nine nurses in an acute hospital in Singapore participated in a mentorship program throughout 2015. Mentees conducted ward-based EBP education sessions for nursing colleagues. The Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ) was used to measure the program's effect on mentees' and their ward colleagues' knowledge, attitude, and practice of EBP. Both groups completed the EBPQ before and 3 months after completion of the program. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were performed to compare changes in EBPQ scores. Results: Both mentees and ward colleagues reported improved posttest median scores for all EBPQ subscales and the overall score. However, mentees reported a larger magnitude of improvement. Conclusion: A hospital-based research and EBP mentorship program increases nurses' knowledge, attitude, and practice of EBP, creating an EBP culture change.