Education and implementing evidence-based nursing practice for diabetic patients

BACKGROUND Foot ulceration is one of the most common complications associated with diabetes that needs to be managed. In Iran, prevalence of diabetes foot ulcer is 3%. According to studies, evidence-based nursing (EBN) is an effective alternative to facilitate clinical decision making in patient care and may lead to quality improvement in nursing practice. The aims of this study are to assess the effects of EBN education on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of nurses who take care of patient with diabetes foot ulcer. MATERIALS AND METHODS A quasi-experimental study (based on IOWA model as a framework to improve nursing practice) was conducted using a before-and-after design. All of nurses (consisted of 19 baccalaureate nurses) who are working in an endocrinology ward were chosen and taught using EBN approach through different workshops. Before and after educational intervention, the data about nurses' knowledge, attitude, and practice were gathered by questionnaire and then compared. The nurses' performance in patient care was evaluated in 3 months by one checklist. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS There were statistically significant differences in knowledge, attitude, and practice of nurses before and after intervention (P = 0.001). The nurses' performance in caring for patient with diabetes foot ulcer, based on clinical guideline, showed the improvement in clinical practice. CONCLUSION Education of EBN can improve the nurse's knowledge and attitude to EBN, and be used as a basis on which to influence the professional practice of nursing.