Knowledge and attitude about evidence-based practice in Iranian nurses: A systematic review
Keywords:
Knowledge, Attitude, Evidence-based practice, Nurses, Systematic reviewAbstract
The objective of this systematic review was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Iranian nurses regarding evidence-based practice. A comprehensive and systematic search was conducted across various international electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, as well as Persian databases such as Iranmedex and the Scientific Information Database (SID). The search utilized keywords derived from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), such as “knowledge”, “attitude”, “evidence-based practice”, and “nurses”, covering studies published up to June 28, 2025. The quality of the included studies in this systematic review was assessed using the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS). A total of 1,314 nurses were included across eight cross-sectional studies. The findings revealed that the knowledge of nurses regarding evidence-based practice was generally low in most studies. Several factors demonstrated a significant positive relationship with nurses’ knowledge of evidence-based practice, including level of education, work experience, age, attitude, practice, male gender, participation in evidence-based practice workshops, and having published articles in journals. Conversely, the number of beds in hospitals was found to have a significant negative relationship with knowledge. Additionally, the attitude of nurses towards evidence-based practice was reported as moderate in most studies. Factors such as level of education, work experience, practice, and having published articles in journals showed significant positive correlations with nurses’ attitudes toward evidence-based practice. In conclusion, this review reveals a significant gap between Iranian nurses’ supportive attitudes and their limited EBP knowledge. Bridging this divide will require concerted efforts in curriculum reform, professional development, and organizational support. With appropriate investment and leadership, the nursing profession in Iran can move toward more effective and widespread integration of evidence-based practice in clinical care.
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