Raising research awareness among midwives and nurses: does it work?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Nursing Research
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Increasing research awareness among healthcare professionals is crucial for advancing clinical practice.
• Midwives and nurses play a vital role in implementing evidence-based care.
• Identifying effective strategies to enhance research engagement in these groups is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of two distinct approaches aimed at increasing research awareness among midwives and nurses.
• To assess the impact of an educational program and targeted interventions on staff engagement with research.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed, measuring staff attitudes at two time points.
• Participants included midwives and nurses across four clinical areas in an acute NHS Trust.
• Data were collected via self-complete questionnaires, with interventions focused on ward sisters.

Main Results:

• The study demonstrated a significant increase in both knowledge and the utilization of research resources.
• Following the educational program, staff in the intervention group were more likely to use research resources.
• A notable increase in reported reading of research papers within the last month was observed in the intervention group.

Conclusions:

• Investing in staff knowledge and research use presents significant opportunities for healthcare Trusts.
• An enabling environment that supports intensive interventions and addresses structural factors is critical for staff engagement.
• Without such an environment, perceived opportunities for managers may be viewed as burdens by staff.