EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WORKING AT PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN THE AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA 2022

Abstract

Abstract Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the careful, clear, and wise use of current best

evidence in decision making about the care of individual patients. It results in many positive outcomes like high-quality care provision, improved patient outcomes, and lower costs. Objective: This study aimed to assess evidence-based practice and associated factors among health professionals working at private hospitals in the Amhara region, 2022. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional quantitative study supplemented with a qualitative study design was conducted from May 8, 2022, to June 20, 2022. A total of 424 health professionals were included, using proportional allocation of simple random sampling. Data were collected using both a self-administered questionnaire and interview guide (for key-informant interview) with purposive sampling method for quantitative and qualitative parts respectively. Data was entered using Epi-data version 4.6 and the collected data was cleared, arranged, and coded, and then analyzed using SPSS 26.

Descriptive

statistics, Bivariable and multivariable analysis of logistic regression with AOR (95% CI) was performed at p<0.05 and thematic analysis made to qualitative data to triangulated with the quantitative one using open code version 4.02.

Result: The study revealed that 32.3% of health professionals were found to have good evidence-based practice. The factors found to be significantly associated with good EBP include Male sex (AOR =1.92; 95% CI: 1.07, 3.41), having training of EBP (AOR = 9.36; 95% CI: 5.00, 17.51), Good Knowledge (AOR = 1.83: 95% CI: 1.06, 3.16), level of education

include General practitioner (AOR = 4.58: 95% CI: 1.33, 15.71), and Specialty (AOR = 3.59: 95% CI: 1.04, 12.46). Conclusion: The evidence- based practice of health professionals was poor. Sex, Training, Knowledge, and Educational level were the major contributing factors for evidencebased practice. Therefore, planed trainings need to be delivered to all health professionals and enhancing their knowledge by motivating them to increase evidence-based practice.

Keywords: Evidence-based practice, health professionals, private hospital, Amhara region.