The significance of attitudes towards evidence-based practice in information technology use in the health sector: an empirical investigation

Abstract

The article investigates the relationship between attitudes towards evidence-based practice (EBP) and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in practice and demonstrates that the poor correlation reported in the literature is a methodological artifact rather than a substantive fact. Results are based on structured surveying of 1015 medical and nursing staff, drawn from 15 Greek hospitals. We used unfolding item response theory models to demonstrate that by placing the statements assessing attitude towards EBP and ICT self-reported use on a single attitude–behaviour continuum, behaviour statements have a systematically different location on the attitude–behaviour continuum from the attitude statements. Based on the latent probabilistic relation among attitudes towards EBP and ICT use, the practical implications of the study are discussed.

Keywords:

• evidence-based practices
• unfolding models
• information and communication technology
• attitudes
• health sector

Acknowledgements

The authors express their special thanks to the medical and nursing staff of all the hospitals who wholeheartedly contributed to the survey. Unfortunately, they will remain nameless to preserve anonymity. The authors of the article hold full responsibility for results and opinions expressed in the article.