PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 16965312

Research awareness: An important factor for evidence-based practice?

Robert McSherry·Angela Artley·Jan Holloran
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing body of literature, the reality of getting evidence into practice remains problematic. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish levels of research awareness amongst registered health care professionals (RHCPs) and the influence of research awareness on evidence-based practice activities. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a descriptive quantitative study. A convenience sample of 2,126 registered RHCPs working in a large acute hospital in Northeast England, the United Kingdom was used. A self-completion Research Awareness Questionnaire (RAQ) was directed towards measuring RHCP: attitudes towards research, understanding of research and the research process, and associations with practising using an evidence base. Data were entered into a Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) database and descriptive and inferential statistics were used. FINDINGS: A total of 843 questionnaires were returned. Seven hundred and thirty-three (91%) RHCPs overwhelmingly agreed with the principle that evidence-based practice has a large part to play in improving patient care. This point was reinforced by 86% (n = 701) of respondents strongly agreeing or agreeing with the idea that evidence-based practice is the way forward to change clinical practice. Significant associations were noted between levels of confidence to undertake a piece of research and whether the individual had received adequate information about the research process, had basic knowledge and understanding of the research process, or had research awareness education or training. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that RHCPs, regardless of position or grade, have a positive attitude towards research but face many obstacles. The key obstacles are lack of time, support, knowledge, and confidence. To address these obstacles, it is imperative that the organisation adopts a structured and coordinated approach to enable and empower individuals to practice using an evidence base.

Explore related subjects

Acute DiseaseAttitude of Health PersonnelAwarenessChi-Square DistributionDiffusion of InnovationEnglandEvidence-Based MedicineHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth Services Needs and DemandHumansInterprofessional RelationsLicensureModels, PsychologicalNursing Methodology ResearchOrganizational InnovationPersonnel, HospitalPower, PsychologicalProfessional CompetenceProfessional RoleSelf EfficacySocial SupportStatistics, NonparametricSurveys and QuestionnairesTime ManagementJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Robert McSherry, Angela Artley, Jan Holloran. 2006. Research awareness: An important factor for evidence-based practice?. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6787.2006.00059.x

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2008

The effect of acute pain crisis on exhaled nitric oxide levels in children with sickle cell disease.

Exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) has been shown to be decreased in children with sickle cell disease. We sought to evaluate the effect of sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) on FE(NO) levels. We measured FE(NO) levels in 42 children with sickle cell disease, 29 in their baseline health and 13 during an acute VOC. There was no difference in FE(NO) levels between children at baseline (15.12 +/- 9.32 ppb) and those during an acute VOC (15.68 +/- 7.26 ppb; P = 0.794). FE(NO) is not a useful marker of acute VOC in children with sickle cell disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2008

[Megadolichobasilar anomaly causing acute deafness with vertigo].

Megadolichobasilar anomaly, a dilatant arteriopathy of the basilar artery attributable to chronic arterial hypertension, can cause cranial nerve compression syndromes of the cerebellopontine angle or infarcts of the vertebrobasilar circulation. In this paper, we report on a patient with known megadolichobasilar anomaly and a partially thrombosed fusiform aneurysm of the basilar artery, who presented with acute-onset vertigo and subsequent deafness due to thromboembolic occlusion of the labyrinthine artery. Because of the vascular origin of the patient's symptoms, his vertigo disappeared over time while the deafness persisted.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2008

Retrieval of a leaflet escaped in a Tri-technologies bileaflet mechanical prosthetic valve.

The escape of the prosthetic heart valve disc is one of the causes of prosthetic dysfunction that requires emergency surgery. The removal of the embolized disc should be carried out because of the risk of a progressive extrusion on the aortic wall. Several imaging techniques can be used for the detection of the missing disc localization. In this report we describe a 32-year-old man who underwent mitral valve replacement with a Tri-technologies bileaflet valve three years ago, and was admitted in cardiogenic shock. Transesophageal echocardiography showed acute-onset massive mitral regurgitation. The patient underwent emergency replacement of the prosthetic valve. Only one of the two leaflets remained in the removed prosthetic valve. The missing leaflet could not be found within the cardiac cavity. The abdominal fluoroscopic study and plain radiography were unable to detect the escaped leaflet. The abdominal computed tomography scan and the ultrasound showed the escaped leaflet in the terminal portion of the aortic bifurcation. To retrieve the embolized disc laparotomy and aortotomy were performed three months later. The escaped leaflet shows a fracture of one of the pivot systems caused by structural failure. This kind of failure mode is usually the result of high stress concentration.

Acute Disease↗