Towards knowledge-based practice; an evaluation of a method of dissemination

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Health Information Dissemination

Background:

• Effective dissemination of research findings to practicing nurses is crucial for improving patient care.
• Nurses require accessible and relevant information to update their clinical practices, particularly in specialized areas like leg ulcer management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a clinical information pack designed to disseminate research-based knowledge on leg ulcer management to community nurses.
• To explore factors influencing the relationship between research and clinical practice in nursing.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post test, two-group experimental design was employed.
• 171 qualified community nurses from five health authorities participated.
• Data were collected using two comprehensive questionnaires assessing clinical practices and information dissemination.

Main Results:

• The clinical information pack was evaluated for its effectiveness in disseminating research-based information.
• Descriptive data on nurses' clinical practices in leg ulcer care were collected.
• Factors independent of leg ulcers, affecting research utilization and information flow to practitioners, were identified.

Conclusions:

• The study provides insights into an effective method for disseminating research to nurses.
• Findings underscore the importance of understanding the broader context of research-practice integration in nursing.
• The identified factors offer implications for improving knowledge translation in clinical nursing settings.