Abstract
Facilitators of research utilisation are important in the implementation of evidence-based practice. Numerous facilitators for nursing practice have been identified, but knowledge of the impact of demographic characteristics on these enablers of research utilisation is limited. The study’s aim was to determine nurses’ perceptions of the facilitators of research utilisation and assess differences in the facilitator of research utilisation score based on nurses’ demographic characteristics. A total of 2650 registered nurses from five hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were recruited for participation. A facilitator scale and self-designed demographic survey were used for data collection. The number of completed questionnaires was 1824 (69%). The results showed that many of the participants were female, aged between 20 to 40 years, and were expatriates mainly from the Philippines. Most respondents were clinical nurses with 6 to 10 years of experience. Many of the nurses had a bachelor’s degree and a qualification from the Asian region. The mean total facilitator score was 26.1, with strong facilitators of research, including advanced education, providing colleague support, more clinically focused research and employing nurses with research skills. Recommendations for the facilitation of research utilisation include a strengthening of the research curriculum in nursing education programs as well as through continuing professional education.
Highlights
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is recognised as an important factor in improving the quality of healthcare [1,2]
A meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of quality improvement strategies to improve diabetes management; a strategy used was EBP, with improvement in diabetes care and nurses scoring higher than physicians in the administration of these interventions for patients [4]
The demographic findings for age, gender, qualification and nursing experience are comparable to statistical data from other studies undertaken in Saudi Arabia [19,22,23]
Summary
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is recognised as an important factor in improving the quality of healthcare [1,2]. The practice of EBP is determined by the sources of evidence (research utilisation), experience of the practitioner and desires and expectations of patients [5]. Nurses who practice EBP have been found to be empowered and practice with heightened self-confidence, as they provide care based on evidence rather than routine [6]. Associated with EBP is research utilisation, which, for nursing, is defined as the application of research findings in all aspects of nursing practice [1,2,7]. It is unequivocal that research utilisation and EBP improve nurses’ performance [8,9]. Most nurses appreciate the importance of research utilisation, and believe they cannot apply it in practice as required [1,2,10]
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