Research participation and utilization among clinical nurses in a Southwestern Tertiary Health Institution, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed research participation; determined attitude toward research utilization; identified barriers and facilitators to research participation and utilization among clinical nurses.

Design: Descriptive cross-sectional research design.

Setting: Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife, Nigeria.

Participants: A sample size of 265 nurses that was randomly selected from the target population

Intervention: A Structured questionnaire adapted from two Standard Scales, tested for validity and reliability was used to collect data that was analysed using Statistical Package Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to present the data and test the hypothesis at a significance level of 0.05.

Outcome Measures: Research participation, attitude toward participation and utilization, barriers and facilitators to research participation and utilization among nurses

Results: Results revealed that majority of the respondents (94.7%) participated in Nursing research, while 64.2% had a positive attitude towards research Utilization in clinical practice. Almost half (49.8%) of the respondents perceived workload and staff shortage as the leading barriers to research utilization while 72.1% identified mandatory training as the major facilitator to Research participation and utilization in clinical practice.

Conclusion: This study concluded that nurses participate in research and they demonstrated positive attitudes towards research utilization but there is need for nurses to overcome the barriers to research participation and utilization in order to promote evidenced based practice.