A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Advanced Practice Nurses' Evidence‐Based Healthcare Competence and Associated Factors in Finland and Singapore— A Cross‐Sectional Study




AuthorsYlimäki, Saija; Oikarinen, Anne; Tuomikoski, Anna‐Maria; Woo, Brigitte; Mikkonen, Kristina; Zhou, Wentao; Parisod, Heidi; Sneck, Sami; Vähänikkilä, Hannu; Kääriäinen, Maria

PublisherWiley

Publication year2025

JournalJournal of Advanced Nursing

Journal name in sourceJournal of Advanced Nursing

ISSN0309-2402

eISSN1365-2648

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16771

Web address https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16771


Abstract

Aim
To describe and compare the Evidence-Based HealthCare (EBHC) competence of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), and the factors associated with it in Finland and Singapore.

Design
A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study.

Methods
Data were collected from APNs working in healthcare in Finland (n = 157) or Singapore (n = 99) between May 2023 and October 2023 using a self-assessment instrument to measure EBHC competence (EBHC-Comp-APN) and an EBHC knowledge test. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, K-mean cluster and multivariate analyses.

Results
The self-assessments of APNs working in Finland and Singapore regarding their EBHC competence level varied and three distinct profiles of APNs' EBHC competence were identified in both countries. The strongest EBHC competence was in ‘The Knowledge Needs Related to Global Health’, while the weakest in ‘Evidence Synthesis and Transfer’. The country-specific differences were identified in factors associated with EBHC competence.

Conclusion
The EBHC competencies of APNs vary widely and require planned and needs-driven development. In connection with the development of EBHC competence, the factors related to competence should be considered country-by-country.


Funding information in the publication
The authors received no specific funding for this work.


Last updated on 2025-13-05 at 14:15