Table 2 Self-efficacy, attitudes and behaviour across students randomised to blended and didactic learning approaches

1. How often have you formulated a clearly answerable question as the beginning of the process towards filling an information gap?

6.22 ± 0.16

4.21 ± 0.33

2.01 (1.29 to 2.73)*

2. How often have you tracked down the relevant evidence once you have formulated the question?

6.13 ± 0.20

5.05 ± 0.24

1.08 (0.45 to 1.7)*

3. How often have you critically appraised any literature you have discovered?

5.63 ± 0.27

4.26 ± 0.32

1.37 (0.52 to 2.2)*

4. How often have you integrated the evidence you have found with your activities?

5.72 ± 0.27

4.10 ± 0.28

1.62 (0.82 to 2.41)*

5. How often have you evaluated the outcomes of your EBCP practice?

5.50 ± 0.28

3.26 ± 0.36

2.24 (1.31 to 3.15)*

6. How often have you shared information that you’ve gathered with colleagues?

5.50 ± 0.34

4.78 ± 0.32

0.72 (−0.23 to 1.65)

7. New evidence is so important that I make the time in my work schedule

5.09 ± 0.32

3.73 ± 0.21

1.36 (0.56 to 2.14)*

8. I welcome questions on my practice

6.09 ± 0.22

5.31 ± 0.18

0.78 (0.19 to 1.35)*

9. Evidence based practice is fundamental to professional practice

6.63 ± 0.12

6.15 ± 0.14

0.48 (0.09 to 0.85)*

10. My practice has changed because of evidence I have found

5.68 ± 0.21

5.10 ± 0.23

0.58 (−0.04 to 1.20)

11. How would you rate your research skills?

5.09 ± 0.21

3.73 ± 0.19

1.36 (0.78 to 1.92)*

12. How would you rate your IT skills?

5.68 ± 0.24

4.47 ± 0.22

1.21 (0.54 to 1.87)*

13. How would you rate your ability to monitor and review your EBCP skills?

5.22 ± 0.26

3.73 ± 0.20

1.49 (0.80 to 2.17)*

14. How would you rate your ability to convert your information needs into a clinical question?

5.95 ± 0.19

4.68 ± 0.15

1.27 (0.76 to 1.77)*

15. How would you rate your awareness of major information types and sources?

5.27 ± 0.25

5.26 ± 0.13

0.01 (−0.59 to 0.61)

16. How would you rate your ability to identify gaps in your professional practice?

4.81 ± 0.19

4.36 ± 0.20

0.45 (−0.12 to 1.02)

17. How would you rate your knowledge of how to retrieve evidence?

5.31 ± 0.24

4.94 ± 0.18

0.37 (−0.25 to 1.00)

18. How would you rate your ability to analyse critically evidence?

5.09 ± 0.20

4.15 ± 0.16

0.94 (0.40 to 1.46)*

19. How would you rate your ability to determine how valid (close to the truth) the material is?

5.00 ± 0.26

4.05 ± 0.19

0.95 (0.27 to 1.61)*

20. How would you rate your ability to determine how useful (clinically applicable) the material is?

5.68 ± 0.18

4.57 ± 0.12

1.11 (0.64 to 1.56)*

21. How would you rate your ability to apply information to individual cases?

5.40 ± 0.18

4.78 ± 0.17

0.62 (0.10 to 1.13)*

22. How would you rate your sharing of ideas and information with colleagues?

5.18 ± 0.27

4.84 ± 0.19

0.34 (−0.35 to 1.03)

23. How would you rate your dissemination of new ideas about care to colleagues?

5.31 ± 0.27

3.89 ± 0.16

1.42 (0.75 to 2.09)*

24. How would you rate your ability to review your own practice?

5.22 ± 0.24

4.15 ± 0.14

1.07 (0.47 to 1.66)*