KNOWLEDGE OF AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AMONG MIDWIVES TAKING A SPECIALTY EXAMINATION ORGANIZED BY CENTER OF POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION FOR NURSES AND MIDWIVES

Background and Aim of Study:
The improvement of professional qualifications and participation in continuing education on the basis of the most recent study results constitute a precondition to ensure efficient and safe health services and to provide maternity care of the highest quality and efficiency. The study aimed to assess knowledge of, attitudes towards, and skills of using Evidence – Based Practice (EBP) among midwives after completing a specialized training organized by the Center of Postgraduate Education for Nurses and Midwives (CKPPiP).

Materials and Methods:
48 midwives taking part in the CKPPiP specialty examination in the summer 2014 session; mean age of 47.57 years (min. 32, max. 60, SD=6.502); mean length of service was 28.07 years (min. 7, max. 38, SD=6.494). 93.75% of the total worked full-time in a public hospital, 56.25% of all worked as senior midwives. 52.08% of the study participants had secondary education. Standardized Evidence–Based Practice Profile Questionnaire from the University of South Australia, quantative analysis of the study results. Reliability analysis: Cronbach's α coefficient, STATISTICA 12.

Results:
Reliability analysis for particular domains: Cronbach's α coefficient was between 0.882 and 0.975. As many as 66.6% of the midwives were aware of the importance and development of EBP in midwifery and the benefits resulting from using EBP. 37.5% of the study participants have never evaluated the methodological soundness of the scientific literature they had been using and have not referred it to their own diagnosis (20.8%). As many as 39.5% of all have never met the term of "systematic review". 56.2% of the study group said that they knew how to search for information in electronic databases of scientific literature and used them once a month (31.2%). Despite using EBP in making proper clinical decisions in their professional practice, midwives valued their own clinical experience more than study results (62.5%).

Conclusions:
1. Since the level of knowledge of using Evidence-Based Practice among midwives who completed a specialisation programme is clearly insufficient, knowledge and skills of midwives with respect to this issue need to be urgently supplemented.
2. In order to improve the current level of knowledge of EBP among midwives, it is advisable to offer them further training and enhance their skills concerning methodology of research.
3. It is necessary for midwives to continuously update their knowledge of using the most recent study results in their professional practice.