Barriers to using research evidence in nursing practice

The nursing profession has long recognized the importance of research as an essential basis for its development. More recently, the movement supporting evidence-based practice has brought this point into focus. However, relatively little research has been conducted to identify factors that interfere with the ability of nurses to base their practice on research evidence. Using factor analysis procedures, barriers to the use of research evidence in practice which were perceived to be present by 400 registered nurses working in an Australian hospital, were grouped under four main factors. These were accessibility of research findings, anticipated outcomes of using research, organizational support to use research and support from others to use research. The most important factor was perceived to be organizational support, particularly in relation to providing time to use and conduct research.