Research knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals

Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) in the conduct and utilization of research were assessed using the Nursesʹ Research KAP Survey© in 746 nurse (n = 538) and non-nurse (n = 208) health professionals. Nurses were older, included more females and had less education than non-nurses. Knowledge and attitudes differed by discipline, but attitudes were generally high in both groups. Both groups reported low knowledge in the area of research implementation and nurses also had low practice scores in this area. Research-related knowledge, attitudes and practices for both groups were higher than those previously reported in the literature. Knowledge and attitudes alone predicted 71% of the variance in practices, suggesting that targeted strategies could foster evidence-based practice. These should include increased administrative support for research, development of multidisciplinary teams, and collaborative partnerships with doctorally prepared nurses to provide the synergy to enhance the conduct and utilization of research in clinical settings.