Paper
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
This presentation is part of : Methodological Issues
Sustained and Expanded Use of Research in Nursing: Definitions and Indicators
Barbara L. Davies, RN, PhD1, Maureen Dobbins, RN, PhD2, Nancy Edwards, RN, PhD3, Pat Griffin, RN, PhD4, Jenny Ploeg, RN, PhD2, Jennifer Skelly, RN, PhD2, Tazim Virani, RN, MScN5, Cindy Versteeg, RN, MScN1, and Wendy Gifford, RN1. (1) Nursing/Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, (2) School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, (3) Nursing/Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, (4) Office of Nursing Policy, Health Policy and Communications Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada, (5) Registered Nurses of Ontario (RNAO), ON, Canada
Learning Objective #1: Understand definitions and elements applicable to the assessment of the long-term sustainability of research results into practice
Learning Objective #2: Identify indicators (provider,patient, organization) for assessing the implementation of evidence-based recommendations into practice
Background: Little attention has been paid to the issue of long-term sustainability of implementing practice innovations. Our team was interested in learning about the patterns of use of evidence-based best practice guidelines at 24 months after participation in a province-wide project led by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Canada. Three research utilization models underpinned our original evaluation and were valuable for the planning of the follow-up study (Dobbins et al. 1998, Logan and Graham, 1998, Rogers, 1995). A prospective panel study of the 45 original participating organizations was planned. In order to enhance the validity and generalizability of results we consulted an international advisory panel for a review of key definitions and items on measurement tools.

Methods: A five member panel from Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, and the United States was asked to review proposed definitions of sustained and expanded use of research evidence and to assess the content validity of our questionnaires for staff nurses, administrators and research facilitators. One guideline was selected as a template (assessment and prevention of pressure ulcers). Validity was rated on a four point scale. In addition, the panel was requested to indicate areas of omission and suggestions for improvement.

Findings: The panel provided insightful suggestions. Overall, eighty percent of the items in the questionnaires received a rating of 3 or 4 (relevant, minor alteration). For the items rated lower, revisions were made. Categories included: provider (self-report use, embedded use); organization/unit (continuing education, policies/procedures, monitoring, action plans); patient/family (education materials); resources/equipment (supplies).

Conclusions: A structured process was useful for the development of definitions and measurement tools for assessing the sustainability of the use of research results in practice. The resulting evaluation framework is better able to uncover the determinants of the sustained use of research in Nursing.

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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 21, 2004