Factors Affecting Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals' Ability to Engage With Research

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Research
• Professional Development
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Research engagement is linked to better patient care quality.
• Nurses, Midwives, and Allied Health Professionals (NMAHPs) experience more barriers to research participation than medical professionals.
• This limits the development of a diverse, multi-professional research workforce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing research engagement among NMAHPs in England.
• To assess perceptions of research capacity at organizational, team, and individual levels.

Main Methods:

• A national descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted.
• Data were collected using the validated Research Capacity and Culture tool.
• Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially, with qualitative free-text responses evaluated thematically.

Main Results:

• Perceived research capacity was moderate at organizational and team levels.
• Organizational strengths included promoting evidence-based practice and leadership support.
• Individual NMAHPs demonstrated competence in literature review and data collection but needed support for funding and publication. Qualitative data revealed significant constraints due to resource pressures, unclear career pathways, and professional inequality.

Conclusions:

• Despite high motivation, structural barriers significantly hinder NMAHP research engagement.
• Coordinated action across clinical and policy systems is needed to enhance capacity, providing protected time, mentorship, and research infrastructure.
• Embedding research into clinical practice fosters evidence-informed decisions, service innovation, and a sustainable multi-professional research culture.