Validation study and setting norms of the evidence based practicecompetence questionnaire for nursing students: A cross-sectional study in Poland

Abstract

Background:Achieving high quality care through full use of potential stemming from the use of the principles ofevidence based practice (EBP) requires adequate shaping of student attitudes toward EBP already at an earlystage of education, as well as teaching in the scope of knowledge and skills essential to apply EBP in futureprofessional work. Therefore, nursing educators need a tool to assess competency in EBP. This study aims topresent the adaptation of the psychometric test and setting norms to the Polish version of the Evidence BasedPractice Competence Questionnaire (EBP-COQ_P).Methods:Poland-wide multicentre study, cross-sectional validation design, a representative sample of 1636nursing students. The EBP-COQ_P was validated in terms of content validity through an expert review. The EBP-COQ_P was administered to evaluate test reliability and validity. Settings norms for the Polish nurse populationwere also done.Results:Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that 25 items are grouped into three categories which definecompetences related to EBP: attitude, knowledge, and skills. Cronbach's alpha was 0.856 for the entire ques-tionnaire. EBP-COQ_P had good parameters of absolute stability. EBP-COQ_P was also characterized with ex-ternal construct validity. Measurement with the use of EBP-COQ_P allowed for a good differentiation of therespondents in terms of their expertise in EBP (known-groups validity).Conclusions:In terms of reliability and validity, EBP-COQ_P is compared with its original version. EBP-COQ_Pmay be used in educational practice (graduate and postgraduate education). Polish norms set for a representativegroup of nursing students may serve as a benchmark for the results obtained from individual and group mea-surements.