title: Exploring the barriers to and facilitators of implementing research into practice.
abstract: District and community nursing roles have changed rapidly in recent years. Community nurses are increasingly being tasked with carrying out multiple roles, which require them to put research into practice and use evidence-based tools and interventions. The implementation of interventions and tools needs to be developed from empirical research, requiring evidence, to be translated into practice. However, this process may be compromised or enhanced by a number of factors. This exploratory, descriptive qualitative study sought to identify barriers and facilitators to community nurses implementing research into practice. Four focus groups were conducted with registered community nurses and district nurses (n=22). Analysis identified four main themes: keeping up to date with evidence; using a clinical tool; education/training and implementation. Findings suggest that there are barriers at a personal, professional and organisational level. Strategies are suggested to overcome these obstacles.
authors.affiliation: Florence Nightingale Foundation, Professor of Clinical Nursing Practice Research, University of Glasgow.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Fellow, University of Nottingham.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coole
authors.affiliation: Research Fellow, University of Nottingham.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narayanasamy
authors.affiliation: Senior Community Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nottingham CityCare Partnership CIC.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feakes
authors.affiliation: Community Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Whitworth
authors.affiliation: Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, Nottingham CityCare Partnership CIC.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tyrell
authors.affiliation: Lecturer in Nursing, University of York.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hardy
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: barriers; community nursing; evidence-based practice; facilitators; focus groups