The Determinants of Research Utilization: Pain Management in Adults

Start/End Dates: 1999 - 2002

Investigators: Carole A. Estabrooks (PI), Janice Lander, Judy Norris, Francis Lau, Geertje Boschma, Judy Watt-Watson, Linda O'Brian-Pallas, Bonnie Stevens, Gail Donner, Jack Williams

Funders: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) / National Health Research and Development Program (NHRDP)/ Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR)

Grant Amount: $223, 727 & $95,000

Description: The underlying question in this study is: How do we influence the use of research findings by nurses? Specifically, how do we increase their research use so that we see improved patient outcomes? Because so little is known in this area, we must first study what factors influence the use of research findings and how those factors influence the use of research findings.

Over a six-month period, investigators used qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups and investigator observation, as well as quantitative survey tools and instruments to obtain a comprehensive picture of two units. Nurses, patients, other health professionals, administrators and families were examined. Measures of unit culture, workload, environmental complexity, pain of the patients, as well as characteristics, opinions, and attitudes of the nurses and many other factors that may influence research use were included in the data. We determined factors that act as facilitators and barriers to nurses using research in this type of hospital setting

The products of this research program are:

Technical Report:

• Estabrooks, C.A., Scott-Findlay, S., Rutakumwa, W., Duan, Q., O'Leary, K., & Roznaova, J. The Determinants of Research Utilization Studies. KUSP Technical Report. 04-01-TR, Dec., 2004. Edmonton , Alberta : University of Alberta , Faculty of Nursing.

Articles:

• Estabrooks, C.A., Scott, S., Squires, J.E., Stevens, B., O'Brien-Pallas, L., Watt-Watson, J., Profetto-McGrath, J., McGilton, K., Golden-Biddle, K., Lander, J., Donner, G., Boschma,G., Humphrey, CK., Williams, J. (2008) Patterns of research utilization on patient care units. Implementation Science. June 2; 3(1): 31.

• Thompson, D., O'Leary, K., Jensen, E., Scott-Findlay, S., O'Brien-Pallas, L., & Estabrooks, C.A. (2008). The relationship between busyness and research use: It's about time. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17(4), 539-548.

• Estabrooks, C.A., Chong, H., Brigidear, K., & Profetto-McGrath, J. (2005). Profiling Canadian nurses' preferred knowledge sources for clinical practice. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 37(2), 118-141.

• Estabrooks, C.A., Rutakumwa, W., O'Leary, K., Profetto-McGrath, J., Milner, M., Levers, M.J., & Scott-Findlay, S. (2005). Sources of practice knowledge among nurses. Qualitative Health Research, 15(4), 460-476.

• Estabrooks, C.A., Floyd, J.A., Scott-Findlay, S., O'Leary, K.A., & Gushta, M. (2003) Individual determinants of research utilization: a systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 43(5), 506-520.

• Estabrooks, C.A., O'Leary, K.A., Hesketh, K.L., & Humphrey, C.K. (2003). The Internet and access to evidence: How are nurses positioned? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 42(1), 73-81.

• Profetto-McGrath, J., Hesketh, K.L., Lang, S, & Estabrooks, C.A. (2003). A Study of Critical Thinking and Research Utilization Among Nurses. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 25(3), 322-337.

• Humphrey, C.K., Estabrooks, C.A., Norris, J.R., Smith, J.E.& Hesketh, K.L. (2000, December). Archivist on board: Contributions to the research team. [18 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/ Forum: Qualitative Social Research [On-line Journal], 1(3). Available at: http://qualitative-research.net/fqs/fqs-eng.htm.