# The Relationship Between Perceived Emotional Competence and Evidence-Based Nursing: A Nationwide Non-Probabilistic Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

Nurses with higher emotional competence are more likely to adopt evidence-based practices, suggesting emotional skills help bridge the gap between knowledge and action in healthcare.

## Contribution

This study reveals emotional competence as a novel, independent predictor of evidence-based nursing adoption in a large national sample.

## Key findings

- Perceived emotional competence is strongly and independently linked to evidence-based nursing adoption.
- Organizational barriers like time and incentives showed no significant correlation with practice adoption.
- High emotional competence may enhance cognitive resources for decision-making in nursing.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
Perceived Emotional Competence is positively associated with Evidence-Based Nursing adoption, suggesting that emotional regulation may support cognitive resources for decision-making.Perceived organizational barriers (e.g., lack of time or incentives) showed no linear association with practice adoption in this nationwide, non-probabilistic sample, challenging the assumption that external obstacles are the primary driver of the “know-do” gap.

Perceived Emotional Competence is positively associated with Evidence-Based Nursing adoption, suggesting that emotional regulation may support cognitive resources for decision-making.

Perceived organizational barriers (e.g., lack of time or incentives) showed no linear association with practice adoption in this nationwide, non-probabilistic sample, challenging the assumption that external obstacles are the primary driver of the “know-do” gap.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Interventions to promote Evidence-Based Nursing should transcend technical training and integrate the development of socio-emotional skills to help nurses navigate uncertainty and resistance to change.Organizational strategies must be holistic; removing structural barriers alone may be insufficient to ensure practice adoption without simultaneously fostering professionals’ emotional and cognitive resilience.

Interventions to promote Evidence-Based Nursing should transcend technical training and integrate the development of socio-emotional skills to help nurses navigate uncertainty and resistance to change.

Organizational strategies must be holistic; removing structural barriers alone may be insufficient to ensure practice adoption without simultaneously fostering professionals’ emotional and cognitive resilience.

Background/Objectives: Evidence-Based Nursing is imperative for high-quality care, but its implementation continues to face the know-do gap. While organizational barriers are often cited, the role of individual competencies, specifically Emotional Competence, in facilitating adoption remains underexplored on a large scale. This study aimed to analyze the association between perceived Emotional Competence, Evidence-Based Nursing adoption, and perceived attitudes and barriers in a nationwide sample of nurses registered with the Portuguese Order of Nurses. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted using a non-probabilistic sample of 3014 nurses registered with the Portuguese Order of Nurses. The Clinical Effectiveness and Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire, the Attitudes and Barriers Questionnaire, and the Emotional Competence Questionnaire were administered. Data were analyzed using bivariate correlations and a multivariable linear regression model. Results: Nurses reported high levels of perceived Emotional Competence (M = 204.7; SD = 20.3). In the multivariable regression model, Emotional Competence remained robustly and independently associated with Evidence-Based Nursing adoption (B = 0.315; p < 0.001), even after adjusting for sociodemographic and professional covariates. The perception of organizational barriers (e.g., time, incentives) did not correlate with adoption (rs = 0.011; p = 0.54). Conclusions: Perceived Emotional Competence is a significant and independent correlate of Evidence-Based Nursing adoption. The results suggest that developing socio-emotional skills, including emotional regulation, may be a relevant training target to support evidence implementation.