Using research for practice: a UK experience of the BARRIERS Scale

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Healthcare Dissemination

Background:

• Healthcare decisions often lack research evidence, relying on opinion.
• Efforts to improve research utilization in nursing are ongoing.
• Barriers to research uptake by practicing nurses have been identified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and evaluate the BARRIERS Scale for UK nurses.
• To compare UK nurses' perceived barriers to research utilization with North American nurses.
• To assess the psychometric properties of the BARRIERS Scale in a UK context.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a convenience sample of 316 UK nurses.
• Administered the BARRIERS Scale to assess perceived obstacles to research use.
• Compared findings with existing data from North American nurses.

Main Results:

• Identified consistent barriers and negligible barriers across UK and North American nurses.
• Found significant differences in confidence evaluating research and perceived authority to change procedures.
• Psychometric evaluation of the BARRIERS Scale was conducted.

Conclusions:

• The BARRIERS Scale is a potentially useful tool for UK nurses.
• Differences in research evaluation confidence and procedural authority exist between UK and North American nurses.
• Addressing identified barriers can improve research implementation in nursing practice.