Using mixed-methods in evidence-based nursing: a scoping review guided by a socio-ecological perspective

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Methodology
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Growing demand for evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing requires effective research approaches.
• Mixed-methods research (MMR) offers a way to improve knowledge and implementation of evidence-based nursing (EBN).
• MMR generates both outcome-based and contextually-focused evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify methodological trends in the application of MMR within EBN research.
• To analyze how MMR is utilized to address EBN.

Main Methods:

• Searches conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar using keywords: "nursing", "mixed-methods", and "evidence-based".
• Seventy-two articles published between 2000-2021 utilizing MMR for EBN were reviewed.
• Articles were analyzed based on content themes and methodological domains within the Socio-Ecological Framework for MMR.

Main Results:

• MMR has been employed to investigate the perception, development, assessment, implementation, and evaluation of EBN strategies.
• The primary rationale for MMR use was to achieve a comprehensive understanding, with concurrent designs being most common.
• Half of the studies integrated MMR with evaluation, action/participatory, or case-study approaches. Research quality assessment predominantly relied on quantitative and qualitative criteria.

Conclusions:

• MMR holds significant potential to advance EBN research.
• It can yield more clinically relevant findings.
• MMR aids nurses in identifying and implementing the best research evidence in practice.