Learning Objective #1: Identify barriers and facilitators towards research utilization

Learning Objective #2: Plan effective strategies to promote the use of research evidence in practice

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With increasing efforts to promote utilization of research evidence into daily practice, data provide strong evidence that dissemination and implementation of evidence-based guidelines leads to favorable changes in health care delivery and patient care. However, it is also becoming apparent that there are a variety of reasons why evidence-based nursing is not being implemented in clinical practice. Barriers to implementation identified in previous studies include lack of knowledge, belief that practice change will not benefit patient care, inadequate support from managers, time restraints, and a lack of the use of systematic implementation strategies. Although there are studies examining the barriers to research utilization, many of these were done in the UK or the US and none had been done in Asian countries, particularly in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Centre for Evidence-based Nursing, a collaborating centre of Joanna Briggs Institute, was established in 1997 and implementation was an early focus of its work. Implementation projects completed include prevention and management of pressure ulcers, vital signs, management of intravascular device and falls prevention. In order to integrate the use of research evidence into the culture of various clinical settings, and with the aim of further extending evidence-based practice into private and primary health care sectors, key factors such as local barriers and facilitators need to be identified. A cross-sectional survey was designed to examine the barriers and facilitators to research utilization among registered nurses in Hong Kong from both public and private sectors. The paper will outline the significant barriers and facilitators to using research evidence in practice and different strategies will be suggested to overcome those barriers.