Aims: This work aims to map instruments available in Japanese that have been assessed for reliability or validity for measuring evidence-based practice (EBP) among clinical nurses.

Background: As EBP competencies comprise various domains, many EBP instruments have been developed. However, instruments available in Japanese for measuring EBP have not been reported systematically.

Design: We conducted a scoping review.

Data sources: Two different bibliography databases were searched to identify EBP instruments published until 2019: ICHUSHI (for Japanese articles) and PubMed.

Review methods: After relevant studies were screened and identified, study profile characteristics were extracted to identify EBP instruments in Japanese, and the quality of methodology for developing such instruments was evaluated. This information was recorded and the characteristics were descriptively summarized.

Results: Ninety potentially relevant articles were identified, of which seven articles and nine instruments were included in this review. All instruments were based on self-reported self-efficacy and attitudes. Few Japanese instruments included all the steps required for EBP. The overall reporting quality of each instrument was low.

Conclusions: EBP instruments available in Japanese are extremely scarce. The study results show that it is difficult to measure the various aspects of EBP with the existing instruments.