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Predictors of Nurses' Research Use in Canadian Long-term Care Homes
Melissa G Demery Varin1, Dawn Stacey2, Jennifer L Baumbusch3
1School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Summary
Nurses in long-term care (LTC) use research evidence moderately to highly. Individual attitudes and organizational resources significantly impact nurses
Area of Science:
- Nursing Research
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Long-Term Care
Background:
- Nurses' use of research evidence is crucial for improving patient care in long-term care (LTC) settings.
- Understanding factors influencing research utilization among nurses is essential for effective knowledge translation.
- Previous research has explored barriers and facilitators, but specific predictors in LTC require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the influence of individual characteristics and organizational context on nurses' self-reported use of research evidence in LTC homes.
- To identify specific predictors for instrumental, conceptual, and persuasive research use among nurses.
- To inform strategies for enhancing research utilization in LTC settings.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of survey data from 756 nurses (registered nurses and licensed practical nurses) across 89 LTC homes in Western Canada.
- Generalized estimating equation modeling was employed to identify significant predictors of research use.
- Three types of research use were assessed: instrumental, conceptual, and persuasive.
Main Results:
- Nurses reported moderate to high levels of research use, with no significant differences by nursing role.
- Positive attitude toward research and availability of structural/electronic resources were associated with all three types of research use.
- Individual characteristics strongly influenced conceptual and persuasive research use, while instrumental use was equally predicted by individual and organizational factors.
Conclusions:
- Both individual-level factors (e.g., attitude, self-determination) and organizational-level factors (e.g., resources, staff availability) are critical for promoting research use among LTC nurses.
- Targeting these predictors can enhance the application of research findings in LTC, ultimately benefiting residents.
- Nurses in LTC play a vital leadership role in implementing evidence-based practices.