Evidence-based practice and research utilization activities among rural nurses.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the extent to which rural nurses utilize evidence-based practice guidelines from scientific research in their practice; to describe both previous and current research utilization activities in which they have participated, and to identify the specific barriers they face in their practice settings.


METHODS
Data for this descriptive study were collected through questionnaires with open-ended questions focused on (a) current utilization of nursing research findings, (b) previous involvement in nursing research activities, and (c) participation in medical research activities. The participants were 106 nurses from various practice areas in six rural counties of a southwestern state in the United States.


RESULTS
Results revealed that only 20.8% of the participants stated they were currently involved in research utilization, and they were mostly nurses with bachelor's degrees. The two most common areas of current research utilization were pain management and pressure ulcer prevention and management. Barriers to research utilization, such as rural isolation and lack of nursing research consultants, were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
The types of research utilization activities identified by these nurses indicate how much the facilities in which these nurses work in the rural areas are striving with the utilization of available scientific evidence. Rural nurses face unique barriers related to situational and geographic factors, with implications for nursing administrators, researchers, and educators.
Olade
Rosaline A
RA
University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Nursing, 985330 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5330, USA. rolade@unmc.edu
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004522:Educational Status; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D012423:Rural Health; D012934:Social Isolation; D015206:Southwestern United States; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires