A Context of Uncertainty: How Context Shapes Nurses' Research Utilization Behaviors

@article{citeulike:2905167, abstract = {Context has often been cited as a significant factor in shaping research utilization behavior, yet scholars have been unable to provide specific detail as to how and why it is important. From an ethnographic study of research utilization in a pediatric intensive care unit, we determined that the primary characteristic of this nursing unit was uncertainty. We identified four major sources of uncertainty: (1) the precarious status of seriously ill patients, (2) the inherent unpredictability of nurses' work, (3) the complexity of teamwork in a highly sophisticated hospital environment, and (4) a changing management. We found that uncertainty shaped nurses' behaviors such that research use was irrelevant. Reducing uncertainty is a necessary precursor to any increase in research utilization by nurses. Future knowledge translation strategies need to begin by decreasing and managing uncertainty. 10.1177/1049732307313354}, author = {Scott, Shannon D. and Estabrooks, Carole A. and Allen, Marion and Pollock, Carolee }, citeulike-article-id = {2905167}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049732307313354}, journal = {Qual Health Res}, keywords = {gpc, guidelines, implementation}, month = {March}, number = {3}, pages = {347--357}, posted-at = {2008-06-18 12:22:37}, priority = {2}, title = {A Context of Uncertainty: How Context Shapes Nurses' Research Utilization Behaviors}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049732307313354}, volume = {18}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2905167 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2905167 TI - A Context of Uncertainty: How Context Shapes Nurses' Research Utilization Behaviors JF - Qual Health Res VL - 18 IS - 3 SP - 347 EP - 357 N2 - Context has often been cited as a significant factor in shaping research utilization behavior, yet scholars have been unable to provide specific detail as to how and why it is important. From an ethnographic study of research utilization in a pediatric intensive care unit, we determined that the primary characteristic of this nursing unit was uncertainty. We identified four major sources of uncertainty: (1) the precarious status of seriously ill patients, (2) the inherent unpredictability of nurses' work, (3) the complexity of teamwork in a highly sophisticated hospital environment, and (4) a changing management. We found that uncertainty shaped nurses' behaviors such that research use was irrelevant. Reducing uncertainty is a necessary precursor to any increase in research utilization by nurses. Future knowledge translation strategies need to begin by decreasing and managing uncertainty. 10.1177/1049732307313354 KW - gpc KW - guidelines KW - implementation AU - Scott, Shannon AU - Estabrooks, Carole AU - Allen, Marion AU - Pollock, Carolee PY - 2008/03/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049732307313354 ER -