ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: For evidence-based knowledge to be applicable in clinical practice, providing support for and the management of knowledge is required to ensure the effective sharing of appropriate expertise across healthcare organizations. Knowledge management platforms can provide a wide range of benefits related to the activation and establishment of evidence-based practice (EBP) in clinical environments. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we developed an integrated evidence-based nursing knowledge management (I-EBNKM) platform and applied it in real-world clinical environments to evaluate its effectiveness. METHODS: We designed an I-EBNKM platform with three main functions: (1) clinical questioning and knowledge linkage, (2) systematic knowledge management, and (3) knowledge communication. After a two-month long application of the I-EBNKM platform in real-world clinical environments, we evaluated the changes in the levels of knowledge in EBP, attitude, practice, confidence in clinical questioning, individual innovative behavior, innovative organizational culture, and organizational knowledge management. The experimental and control groups consisted of 198 nurses, who participated in the study. RESULTS: After applying the I-EBNKM platform, the levels of EBP knowledge and skills (t = 7.16; p <.001), attitude (t = 6.30; p <.001), practice (t = 7.63; p <.001), confidence in clinical questioning (t = 4.57; p <.001), individual innovative behavior (t = 8.72; p <.001), and organizational knowledge management (t = 7.43; p <.001) differed significantly between the experimental group and the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study clearly indicate that the I-EBNKM platform we developed has the potential to enhance nurses' involvement in ensuring effective knowledge management in real-world clinical environments. Therefore, the provision of an innovative digital approach ensuring systematic and timely organizational support among nurses is of critical importance.
