title: Using knowledge as the basis for evidence-based practice in primary care nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore the perception of primary care nurses regarding the need and use of knowledge from research, as a basis for evidence-based practice in their workplace. Additionally, the study aimed to determine which factors might hinder or enable implementation into daily practice.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Evidence-based practice involves integrating best results in research with clinical experience, which enables us to provide a higher quality of care, as well as to optimize the care given. International studies show that nurses feel that there are still many barriers that hinder their doing research and incorporating new findings into clinical practice; although in the field of primary care, few studies have been carried out.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive qualitative study design used focus groups to collect data. This study was carried out in Spanish primary care centres. Forty-six registered nurses took part in this study and were divided into five focus groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three significant themes emerged: awareness of the need to use research, nurses as knowledge-generation agents and motivation to use research despite barriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A limited number of participants and a convenience sample were used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses recognize that professional health care must be based on evidence obtained from daily work - both originated by their colleagues and by themselves - and they are willing to work on it although they perceive a lack of competence for this purpose and demand support from their institutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary care institutions should empower nursing coordinators as leaders of evidence-based practice and implicate clinical nurses from the beginning on the implementation of guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Evidence, Lifestyles and Health Research Group Members, Universitat Illes Balears, Palma, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bennasar-Veny
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care, Balearic Islands Health Service, Palma, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Torrente
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Universitat Illes Balears, Palma, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Pedro-Gomez
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy, Podology and Occupational Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Morales-Asencio
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Evidence, Lifestyles and Health Research Group Members, Universitat Illes Balears, Palma, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pericas-Beltran
mesh_terms: D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D059017:Primary Care Nursing; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Evidence-based Practice; Focus Groups; Implementation Research; Nursing; Primary Care