Barriers to Research Utilization among Registered Nurses in Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Survey in China

Abstract

Background. As there might be relevant differences with regard to research utilization in the general hospitals, we aimed to study research utilization among registered nurses working in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals. Methods. A total of 648 registered nurses from 4 tertiary-level hospitals in China were recruited for participation. A modified BARRIERS Scale and self-designed questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-tests, and one-way ANOVAs and Spearman correlation analysis. Results. Overall, items which belong to the subscale “Research” were identified as the most important barriers. Among the individual items, the lack of time on the job was ranked as the top barrier, followed by the lack of knowledgeable colleagues and by overwhelming research publications. Clinical experience, working pressure, job satisfaction, and research experience could be identified as associated factors for barriers to research utilization. Conclusions. Registered nurses in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals felt high barriers to research utilization. Reducing registered nurses' working pressure, promoting their positive attitude to nursing, and improving research training might be helpful for increasing research utilization. Close cooperation between clinical and nursing schools or academic research centres might facilitate the necessary change in nursing education and routine.

Factors influencing the implementation of evidence in Chinese nursing practice

“…Meanwhile, constructivist grounded theory also emphasising on revealing patterns and connections rather than to linear reasoning and emphasises understanding rather than explanation (Charmaz, ). In this study, we found the factors ranging from the evidence level, nurses level, patient level, system level and outside system level, which were generally consistent with the literature from other countries (Ploeg, Davies, Edwards, Gifford, & Miller, ; Solomons & Spross, ; Yagasaki & Komatsu, ), as well as the previous published Chinese surveys (Chien et al., ; Wang et al., ; Zhou et al., ). However, this study also extended the results of previous studies by further exploring the blurred boundaries between facilitators and barriers, influences from Chinese cultural impact and project leaders' roles, as well as an emphasis on the importance of point of care in evidence‐based nursing.…”

“…Two of the studies were carried out in general hospitals (Chien, Bai, Wong, Wang, & Lu, ; Wang, Jiang, Wang, Wang, & Bai, ). The third one was conducted in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals (Zhou et al., ). The results of the three studies consistently pointed out that Chinese nurses perceived higher and more diverse barriers than those reported in studies from in Western countries.…”

“…Zhou et al. ()'s study found from the response of 648 nurses in four hospitals that items from the “research subscale” were the most important barriers. Clinical experience, working pressure, job satisfaction and research experience could be identified as associated factors for barriers to research utilisation.…”

“…It found barriers related to the "setting subscale" were the most influential with the lack of authority, time and language as the top three greatest barriers. Zhou et al (2015)'s study found from the response of 648 nurses in four hospitals that items from the "research subscale" were the most important barriers. Clinical experience, working pressure, job satisfaction and research experience could be identified as associated factors for barriers to research utilisation.…”

Nursing Students Challenges at Educational and Clinical Environment

“…There is no close collaboration between clinical practices and nursing schools. Traditional practices not promote positive attitude for the improvement of clinical training (Zhou et al, 2015). The nursing education system does not offer theoretical content related to clinical requirement.…”