EBP training linked to stronger emergency-care clinical practice in Saudi survey

Emergency nurses and paramedics in Saudi Arabia reported moderate evidence-based practice scores, with prior training associated with more favorable attitudes and use of evidence in clinical work, according to a descriptive cross-sectional study. The survey included 224 personnel from emergency departments and prehospital services in the eastern provinces. Mean scores were 2.92 ± 0.79 for attitudes toward evidence-based practice, 3.07 ± 0.51 for knowledge and skills, and 2.83 ± 0.78 for reported clinical practice. Prior evidence-based practice training was associated with higher attitude scores (p = 0.005) and practice scores (p < 0.001), although it was not significantly associated with knowledge or skills (p = 0.127).

Researchers assessed evidence-based practice through an online questionnaire collecting demographic information and responses on attitudes, knowledge and skills, and clinical application. Participants were predominantly aged 21–30 years, with 105 of the 224 respondents, or 46.9%, in that age group. Men represented 118 participants, or 52.7%, and 178 respondents, or 79.5%, held a bachelor’s degree. The investigators compared group means using independent-samples t-tests for two-group comparisons and one-way analysis of variance for comparisons involving more than two groups. They also reported effect sizes and examined correlations among the three evidence-based practice domains, using p < 0.05 as the threshold for statistical significance.

Educational level was significantly associated with all three measured domains, with reported p values of 0.049 or lower. The analysis did not identify significant differences by professional role, age, or clinical experience. At the same time, attitudes toward evidence-based practice were positively correlated with knowledge and skills and with reported clinical practice; both associations reached p < 0.001. The pattern shows that favorable views of evidence-based practice accompanied stronger clinical application in this sample, but the cross-sectional design cannot establish whether attitudes cause changes in knowledge or practice. Likewise, the association between training and practice does not by itself demonstrate that a particular training program would improve patient outcomes.

The findings provide a baseline picture of evidence-based clinical decision-making among emergency care personnel in the study region, rather than a direct assessment of treatment quality, diagnostic accuracy, safety or clinical benefit. The investigators concluded that higher education was associated with all evidence-based practice domains, while previous training was associated with attitudes and practice but not knowledge and skills. Because the study was observational, relied on self-reported survey responses and covered a defined set of eastern Saudi Arabian emergency services, the results may not represent all emergency care workers in Saudi Arabia or other health systems. The research team described the findings as baseline evidence for informing future educational strategies concerning evidence-based practice.

Subject of Research: Evidence-based clinical decision-making among emergency nurses and paramedics in Saudi Arabia

Article Title: Exploring the journey towards evidence-based clinical decision-making among emergency care personnel

Article References: Kandil, M., Al Haliq, S., Ellouly, H., Aldossary, S., AlShammari, T., Al Ghaseb, A., Alsaqabi, F., Al Alshaykh, O. A., Alajmi, H., Bangasan, R. L., Abuzeid, R., Al-Haliq, M. A., & Elhoseeny, T. A. (2026). Exploring the journey towards evidence-based clinical decision-making among emergency care personnel. BMC Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15476-0

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12913-026-15476-0

Keywords: evidence-based practice, emergency care, nurses, paramedics, clinical decision-making, health education, Saudi Arabia, cross-sectional study, online survey, Exploring, journey, towards