Conduct and utilization of research among nurses at federal capital territory, Abuja Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The need to support nursing practice with evidence and the demand for quality care have implications for conduct of research by nurses for nursing. Research findings are required to determine or establish evidence for practice. This study assessed how nurses conduct and utilize research. Methods: A cross sectional survey design was utilized to explore registered nurses' conduct and utilization of research. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 325 nurses from various health care institutions in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria. Data were analyzed using frequency and cross tabulations. Results: Only 21.2% had conducted research based on their clinical experience while just 4.4% had published in peer reviewed journals and 31.4% had utilized research findings in clinical practice. Few of the respondents, 19.2%, considered time related issues as the leading barrier; while the leading factors that facilitated research were "financial support, motivation and incentive". Most (74.1%) of the respondents conducted research only to fulfill certificate or degree requirements. Less than half (41.2%) believed that they possessed the skill to conduct a good literature search. Conclusions: Conduct and utilization of research was very poor within the study population. Only few of the research conducted were also published in peer reviewed journals. It is recommended that identified barriers should be addressed to improve conduct and utilization of research.

How nurse manager’s position in the hospital hierarchy influences evidence-based practice implementation in nursing: A qualitative case study of the Nigerian acute care setting

“…Previous studies investigating EBP in nursing in Nigeria have focused on individual determinants, utilising self-reported surveys as well as other quantitative approaches. [34][35][36][37][38][39][40] These studies focused on nurses' perceptions of barriers and facilitators of EBP as well as research utilisation using a quantitative approach.…”

Barriers for nurses’ participation in and utilisation of clinical research in three hospitals within the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

“…Several studies on the factors that hinder nurses' participation and utilization of research identified lack of time on the job, lack of knowledge, lack of funding, nurses poor attitude/perception towards research and lack of research support services as the key constraints [ 7 , 8 , 10 - 14 ]. Some studies within this field have been carried out in Nigeria [ 13 , 14 ], but little is known about clinical nurses' involvement in research, in Ghana. In addition, despite some efforts by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana, very little is seen from graduates of the various nursing programs working in clinical settings regarding clinical research.…”

Revisiting Nursing Research in Nigeria

“…[4,29,30,31] Even though the nurses agree that research is beneficial, important and advances nursing care practices, unfortunately majority of the nurses that have been involved in research in Nigeria are data collectors, coordinators of research being done by medical doctors and other professionals in the health care sector or to fulfill a degree requirement. [4,32] A recent study of conduct and utilization of research among nurses showed that out of 325 nurses, a few (21.2%) had conducted a research and 31.4% had utilized research findings in clinical practice. [32] Furthermore, it is difficult to ascertain the number of nurses involved in academic research in Nigeria due in part to the lack of records of national documentation of nurse researchers and the studies they have conducted.…”

“…[4,32] A recent study of conduct and utilization of research among nurses showed that out of 325 nurses, a few (21.2%) had conducted a research and 31.4% had utilized research findings in clinical practice. [32] Furthermore, it is difficult to ascertain the number of nurses involved in academic research in Nigeria due in part to the lack of records of national documentation of nurse researchers and the studies they have conducted. [4] However, the positive perception of nurses and their awareness of the meaning and importance of nursing research indicate that although Nigerian nurses are limitedly involved in nursing research, a high percentage of them are desirous of being involved in nursing research if equipped with the right skills.…”

“…Common challenges are lack of infrastructural facilities, funding and work time, inadequate staffing, poor attitudes towards research, inadequate knowledge of research, lack of research mentors and dearth of research resources. [4,29,32] It is remarkable to point out that even though solutions to these challenges have been preferred in several studies, they are still prevalent. [30,31,34] Nursing research in Nigeria is at its lowest and has made barely any progress since the Ibadan nursing conference of 1973.…”