Belitung Nursing Journal
Vol. 12 No. 4 (2026): July - August

Strengthening evidence-based practice culture in nursing: An ethnographic study in the central highlands of Vietnam

Dang Vuong Nguyen (Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand | Department of Nursing, Buon Ma Thuot Medical University, Dak Lak, Vietnam)
Apinya Jumpamool (Faculty of Nursing, Mahasarakham University , Mahasarakham, Thailand)



Article Info

Publish Date
28 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a vital approach to achieve Quality Improvement (QI) in healthcare services by ensuring that nursing care is grounded in the best available evidence. However, the integration of EBP into nursing in Vietnam is often lacking, presenting a significant challenge for both healthcare leaders and individual practitioners. Objectives: This qualitative study aimed to understand the workplace culture regarding EBP implementation among Vietnamese nurses, exploring the shared beliefs, values, and contextual factors that influence EBP within a tertiary hospital setting, with a particular focus on the Intensive Care Unit and other relevant departments. Method: A focused ethnographic approach was employed. Data were collected over 14 months (from late May 2024 to early July 2025) through participant observation and in-depth interviews with 30 registered nurses from various units (Nursing Department, Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Room, Neurological Department, Internal Medicine Department, and Geriatrics Department). Data analysis followed ethnographic analytic principles to identify key themes. Results: The findings revealed a complex interplay of individual, organizational, and systemic factors. Five key themes emerged: 1) Informal and experiential learning with limited research involvement; 2) Culture of task- and procedure-centered nursing practice; 3) Compliance culture; 4) Developing professional identity; and 5) Misconceptions of EBP and low-evidence conceptualization. Nurses favored experiential and peer-based learning over systematic scientific evidence. Structural constraints, including insurance policies and rigid hierarchies, further hindered EBP implementation. Conclusion: The study recommends multi-level strategies that involve policy reform, hospital management support, and enhanced nursing education to foster an environment conducive to EBP, thereby improving nursing autonomy and the quality of patient care.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

bnj

Publisher

Subject

Nursing

Description

BNJ contributes to the advancement of evidence-based nursing, midwifery and healthcare by disseminating high quality research and scholarship of contemporary relevance and with potential to advance knowledge for practice, education, management or policy. BNJ welcomes submissions of evidence-based ...