INFORMATION-SEEKING, RESEARCH UTILIZATION, AND BARRIERS TO RESEARCH UTILIZATION OF PEDIATRIC NURSE EDUCATORS

This study used Roger's diffusion of innovations model to examine information-seeking, research utilization, and perceived barriers to research utilization of pediatric nurse educators in National League for Nursing accredited baccalaureate degree nursing (BSN) programs. A four instrument survey was mailed to 409 pediatric nurse educators. The response rate was 52 per cent. The most frequently selected sources of information for updating instruction of BSN students were nursing journals, educational activities by specialty groups, and nursing texts. The level of research utilization was estimated using the Nursing Practice Questionnaire-Education (NPQ-E). The level of research utilization for the eight nursing practices related to pediatric pain assessment and management was at the implementation stage. The highest perceived barriers to research utilization in clinical settings using the Barriers instrument were characteristics of the nurse followed by characteristics of the setting, the presentation, and the research. Pediatric nurse educators who selected nursing journals among their top three sources of information had significantly higher research utilization scores than those who did not select nursing journals among their top three sources of information.