The Influence of an Evidence-Based Practice Course on Saudi Nursing Students’ Beliefs About and Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

Background Previous research on evidence-based practice (EBP) beliefs and implementation among nurses in daily clinical practice has revealed a strong belief in EBP, yet its implementation remains inadequate. To prepare prospective nurses to meet this requirement, academic efforts have been made to incorporate EBP into the undergraduate nursing curriculum. Objective This study aims to examine the influence of a course focused on EBP on Saudi nursing students' beliefs about and implementation of EBP at one university using a cross-sectional comparative design. Method A cross-sectional comparative design was employed. The Evidence-Based Practice Belief Scale and the Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Scale were utilized. A questionnaire was distributed to 243 second-year undergraduate nursing students before they began the EBP course and after they completed it. Result A total of 130 students responded to the questionnaire before they started the course and 118 students after they completed the course. The results show that the mean score on the EBP Belief Scale (EBPB) was 55.69 ± 9.93 before the course but increased to 60.75 ± 11.45 afterward. Similarly, the mean score on the Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Scale (EBPI) was 31.59 ± 18.39 prior to the course and increased to 46.41 ± 21.93 post-course. Conclusion These findings suggest that students internalized the importance of staying updated on the latest research and expressed a willingness to implement EBP across advanced healthcare systems, which could contribute to positive patient outcomes. Additional practical workshops and training programs are essential to equip nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance safe nursing care in clinical settings.