Effect of Applying Evidence-Based Practice Program on Skills Acquisition, Information Seeking Behavior and Self-Regulation among Nursing Interns.

Abstract

Evidence-based practice (EBP) has become a vital component of contemporary nursing education and clinical performance. It involves integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences to guide decision-making and enhance care quality. For nursing students, particularly during the internship phase, understanding and applying EBP is fundamental to acquiring essential clinical skills and improving professional competence. Exposure to EBP supports students’ ability to critically evaluate situations, select appropriate interventions, and deliver patient-centered care based on scientific evidence. The process of engaging with EBP requires strong information-seeking behavior, which refers to the ability to effectively search, retrieve, and evaluate scholarly information from credible sources. Students who demonstrate proficient information-seeking behavior are better prepared to make informed clinical decisions and adapt to the ever-changing healthcare environment. This skill is closely tied to self-regulation, as students must independently plan and manage their learning activities, monitor their progress, and reflect on outcomes to continuously improve. Thus, EBP, information-seeking behavior, and self-regulation are interrelated dimensions that collectively empower nursing students to become competent, evidence-informed, and self-directed practitioners. Aim of the study The aim of this study was to: Determine the effect of applying for an evidence-based practice program on skills acquisition, information-seeking behavior, and self-regulation among nursing interns. Research Hypotheses 1. Nursing interns exhibit a higher evidence-based practice (EBP) skills acquisition level after attending the program than before. 2. Nursing interns exhibit higher information-seeking behavior level after attending the program than before. 3. Nursing interns exhibit higher self-regulation level after attending the program than before.

Materials I-Research Design: One group pretest–posttest quasi-experimental research design was utilized to fulfill the aim of the current study. II- Setting: The study was conducted at the training center in King Abdullah Hospital at Bisha City in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. III- Subjects: The subjects of this study included all nursing interns who enrolled in the internship program academic year (2024-2025), approximately 84 nursing interns (student affairs at the department of nursing, Bisha University at Bisha City in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).