Barriers to Integrating Research Into Clinical Nursing Practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Integrating research findings into clinical practice is essential for enhancing healthcare quality.
• Nurses frequently encounter obstacles that impede the application of research in their daily work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the barriers perceived by nurses regarding the utilization of research findings in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a specialist hospital in Saudi Arabia.
• Data were collected using the Barriers to Research Utilization questionnaire via convenience sampling.

Main Results:

• The overall mean score for barriers was 2.67 (SD = 0.47), indicating moderate to high perceived barriers.
• The primary barriers identified were lack of time, insufficient physician cooperation, and inadequate support from other staff.
• Nurses in pediatric and maternity units reported a higher prevalence of these barriers.

Conclusions:

• Clinical setting factors represent the most significant perceived barriers for nurses in integrating research into practice.
• Implementing reforms within clinical areas is recommended to effectively overcome these identified barriers and promote research utilization.