Positive Health Online

Abstract

ROYLE and colleagues, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada write that in the rapidly changing health care environment nurses need to keep up-to-date with new developments, assess whether these are applicable to practice and to make appropriate changes. The authors state that there is evidence that nursing research is underutilised and there exists a considerable gap between nursing research and practice (Boxtrum & Suter, 1993; Brett, 1987; Sokop & Coyle, 1990).

Background

Methodology

The authors conducted a study using guided imagery to decrease patient anxiety within a bone marrow transplant unit in order to: 1) enhance research utilisation in a specific setting; evaluate the outcomes upon a specific clinical nursing problem chosen by nurses and researchers.

Results

The paper describes the research utilisation process and outcomes, evaluates the participatory approach from the perspective of the participating nurses and discusses aids and barriers regard research utilisation.

Conclusion

References

Royle JA et al. The research utilization process: the use of guided imagery to reduce anxiety. Can Oncol Nurs J 6(1): 20-5. Feb 1996.