Developing Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire for community health nurses: reliability and validity of a Spanish adaptation.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to translate the community nursing version of the Developing Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire, adapt the Spanish translation to the primary care context in Spain, and evaluate its reliability and validity.

BACKGROUND: Instruments available in Spanish to date are not designed to rigorously evaluate barriers and incentives associated with evidence-based practice implementation in community health nursing.

DESIGN: Classical Test Theory approach.

METHODS: The 49-item Developing Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire was translated, back-translated and pilot-tested. Two items were added to assess respondents' ability to read and understand the English language. During the first six months of 2010, 513 nurses from 255 primary health care centres in Catalunya (Spain) voluntarily participated in the study. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Internal structure was analysed by principal component analysis. A randomized, controlled, parallel-design study was carried out to test scores' sensitivity to change with two groups, intervention and control. The intervention consisted of eight hours of in-person training, provided by experts in evidence-based practice.

RESULTS: Of 513 nurses, 445 (86·7%) nurses responded to all 51 items. Factor analysis showed six components that explained 51% of the total variance. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were satisfactory (Cronbach α and intraclass correlation coefficients >0·70). A total of 93 nurses participated in the sensitivity-to-change tests (42 in the intervention group, 51 controls). After the training session, overall score and the 'skills for evidence-based practice' component score showed a medium (Cohen d = 0·69) and large effect (Cohen d = 0·86), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The Developing Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire adapted to community health nursing in the primary care setting in Spain has satisfactory psychometric properties.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The Developing Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire is a useful tool for planning and evaluating the implementation of evidence-based practice in community health nursing.