Knowledge and attitudes of nurses after completion of specialist training in palliative nursing care against evidence-based professional

Introduction and aim. The growing number of palliative-care-requiring patients in Poland, which is related to the growing length of life, generates a need for specialized nursing staff. New methods of treatment and approach to a terminal-stage patient require that nurses, being independent service-providers, gain knowledge of evidencebased practice. Assessment of the knowledge and ability to apply evidence-based practice (EBP) by nurses after their completion of specialist training in palliative care nursing. Material and methods. 152 nurses taking part in a specialty examination in palliative care nursing (5 men); mean age: 40.23 (min. 27, max. 65, SD = 6.68), mean length of work: 18.01 yrs (min. 4, max. 37, SD = 7.98). 31% worked in a public hospital, 63% fulltime, 43% as senior nurses. 30% had a master’s degree in nursing. Standardized Evidence-based Practice (EBP) Profi le Questionnaire, quantitative and qualitative analysis. Results. Only 39% of the nurses are aware of the importance and development of EBP in nursing and benefi ts resulting from its application. 23.5% have never assessed the methodological correctness of the scientifi c literature used and referred it to their own diagnosis (15%). 27% do not know the meaning of the term odds ratio and 21% have never come across the term forest plot. 39% declare the ability to gain access to scientifi c evidence and make use of electronic databases of scientifi c literature (36%). In making proper clinical decisions in their professional practice, nurses appreciate clinical practice more than results of scientifi c studies (44%). Conclusions. 1. In connection with a foreseen growing demand for nursing services in the fi eld of palliative care, there is a need to urgently complement and improve the knowledge and skills of nurses with respect to the use of the latest results of scientifi c research in their professional practice. 2. The absence of knowledge of the methodology of scientifi c research among nurses requires systemic changes in education in the fi eld of nursing as well as in the curricula of specialist postgraduate education.