Registered nurses' use of research findings in the care of older people.
OBJECTIVE
To describe registered nurses' reported use of research in the care of older people and to examine associations between research use and factors related to the elements: the communication channels, the adopter and the social system.


BACKGROUND
Research use among registered nurses working in hospital settings has been reported in many studies. Few studies, however, have explored the use of research among registered nurses working in the care of older people.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
In eight municipalities, all registered nurses (n = 210) working in older people care were invited to participate (response rate 67%). The Research Utilisation Questionnaire was adopted. Questions concerning the work organisation and research-related resources were sent to the Community Chief Nurse at each municipality. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied.


RESULTS
The registered nurses reported a relatively low use of research findings in daily practice, despite reporting a positive attitude to research. The registered nurses reported lack of access to research reports at the work place and that they had little support from unit managers and colleagues. Registered nurses working in municipalities with access to research-related resources reported more use of research than registered nurses without resources. The factors 'Access to research findings at work place', 'Positive attitudes to research' and 'Nursing programme at university level' were significantly associated with research use.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a great potential to increase registered nurses' use of research findings in the care of older people. Factors which were linked to the communication channels and the adopter were associated with research use.


CONCLUSIONS
Strategies to enhance research use should focus on access to and adequate training in using information sources, increased knowledge on research methodology and nursing science and a supportive organisation.
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. anne-marie.bostrom@ki.se
Anne-Marie
AM
Boström
Kerstin Nilsson
KN
Kajermo
Gun
G
Nordström
Lars
L
Wallin
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses; D013548:Sweden