title: Research Utilization among Nurses at a Teaching Hospital in Kenya.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the era of evidence based practice (EBP), health care delivery should be grounded on new or validated knowledge and evidence from research. The aim of the study was to assess research utilization by nurses and the influencing factors at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), the largest teaching hospital in Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study employed a descriptive design that utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. It incorporated the Barriers to Research Utilization Scale. It was conducted in six specialized care areas at KNH. Data was collected using questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion and in-depth interviews. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 13 and qualitative data analyzed using themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study found that 20.6% of the nurses were participating in research related to their work and 53.6% of these were implementing research findings to practice. Over 2/3 (70.5%) of the respondents were basing their evidence for practice on the knowledge gained during their nursing school. The three greatest barriers to research utilization were that research reports are not readily available (68.7%), unclear implications for practice (66.5%) and inadequate facilities for implementation (66.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is recommended that sensitization trainings on nursing research/ utilization of findings in nursing practice be established to create awareness, motivate and enhance nurses' abilities and also facilities should be provided to enable implementation.
authors.affiliation: Depertment of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Albanus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kyalo Mutisya
authors.affiliation: Depertment of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: KagureKarani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kigondu
keywords: Evidence based nursing; Nursing research; Practice; Research utilization