Table 3 Differences in the Revised Chinese Evidence-Based Practice Profile Questionnaire by nurses characteristics (n = 543)

 Diploma (A)

2.71 ± 0.84

3.30 ± 0.60

3.70 ± 0.52

2.89 ± 0.54

2.51 ± 0.78

1.96 ± 0.83

2.30 ± 0.73

2.10 ± 0.67

 Bachelor (B)

2.92 ± 0.83

3.55 ± 0.87

3.93 ± 0.60

3.19 ± 0.68

2.50 ± 0.76

2.20 ± 0.91

2.39 ± 0.80

2.04 ± 0.73

Master (C)

3.74 ± 0.70

4.42 ± 0.59

4.32 ± 0.68

3.56 ± 0.81

3.12 ± 0.82

3.71 ± 0.91

3.39 ± 0.70

2.99 ± 0.79

F

17.17***

36.906***

9.659***

8.570***

10.394***

45.685***

26.243***

27.126***

 Post-hoc analysis

C > B, C > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B, C > A

C > B, C > A

C > B, C > A

C > B, C > A

 Non (A)

2.55 ± 0.88

3.24 ± 0.90

3.73 ± 0.62

3.06 ± 0.69

2.26 ± 0.73

1.81 ± 0.75

2.03 ± 0.69

1.8 ± 0.62

  ≤ 20 h (B)

3.20 ± 0.60

3.77 ± 0.73

4.06 ± 0.55

3.22 ± 0.64

2.71 ± 0.72

2.51 ± 0.91

2.69 ± 0.72

2.26 ± 0.71

  > 20 h (C)

3.69 ± 0.75

4.36 ± 0.55

4.38 ± 0.50

3.67 ± 0.69

3.03 ± 0.80

3.36 ± 0.97

3.2 ± 0.82

2.75 ± 0.73

F

67.794***

72.292***

38.059***

18.830***

36.464***

87.050***

86.380***

45.634***

Post-hoc analysis

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

 Non (A)

2.74 ± 0.87

3.23 ± 0.92

3.77 ± 0.61

3.06 ± 0.62

2.47 ± 0.78

1.83 ± 0.77

2.19 ± 0.71

1.91 ± 0.66

 ETT/CET-4 (B)

3.00 ± 0.82

3.67 ± 0.80

3.98 ± 0.60

3.19 ± 0.71

2.52 ± 0.76

2.30 ± 0.92

2.45 ± 0.81

2.13 ± 0.76

 CET-6/IELTS/TOEFL (C)

3.30 ± 0.83

4.10 ± 0.72

4.19 ± 0.56

3.51 ± 0.67

2.80 ± 0.80

3.23 ± 0.98

3.04 ± 0.82

2.46 ± 0.85

F

11.656***

29.751***

13.906***

11.008***

4.564*

60.314***

29.003***

12.757***

Post-hoc analysis

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B, C > A

C > B, C > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

C > B > A

 no

2.88 ± 0.83

3.52 ± 0.86

3.90 ± 0.60

3.17 ± 0.68

2.50 ± 0.76

2.16 ± 0.91

2.36 ± 0.78

2.03 ± 0.71

 yes

3.73 ± 0.66

4.28 ± 0.68

4.35 ± 0.58

3.46 ± 0.69

3.0 ± 0.81

3.47 ± 0.86

3.37 ± 0.69

2.86 ± 0.80

 t

−7.009***

−5.937***

−5.020***

−2.885**

−4.411***

−9.610***

−8.768***

− 7.662***

 Staff nurse

2.92 ± 0.85

3.55 ± 0.87

3.91 ± 0.62

3.18 ± 0.68

2.53 ± 0.79

2.23 ± 0.97

2.40 ± 0.82

2.09 ± 0.77

 Nurse administrator

3.31 ± 0.80

4.06 ± 0.75

4.24 ± 0.47

3.28 ± 0.73

2.64 ± 0.65

2.84 ± 0.94

2.90 ± 0.71

2.29 ± 0.66

 t

−3.054**

− 3.972***

− 3.584***

−0.91

−1.004

− 4.199***

− 4.038***

− 1.763