Nurses and Use of Research Information in Clinical Practice: a Case Study of the University Teaching Hospital in Zambia

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate nurses’ use of research information in their clinical practice at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. A case study that utilised both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection was adopted. Data was collected using a questionnaire. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS and qualitative data was analysed thematically. A purposive sample of 60 practicing nurses was used, 57 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 95%. 54% of the nurses indicated that they used research information in their clinical practice. 12.28% of the nurses used research information very often in their clinical practice. The majority of nurses were prompted to seek information because of: emergency of new cases, to update themselves, to provide quality services, emergency of new technologies and due to a high disease burden. The importance of using research information by nurses in clinical practice has been clearly articulated by researchers. Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Research Utilisation, Research Information, Nursing Practice.