Page 479 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

446 n RESEARCH UTIlIzATION

of a team approach for reviewing research
ReseaRch utilization results related to specific patient care prob-
R lems, developing clinical protocols, and then
testing the protocol in an acute care clinical
Research utilization is a process in which setting. A key component of research uti-
knowledge generated from research is trans- lization in this model was the replication
lated into practice. It is a term that was used of previous studies. The focus of the Iowa
before the introduction of the term evidence- model was similar to that of the CURN pro-
based practice. The goals of research utili- ject, with particular attention to developing
zation and evidence-based practice are the support for research utilization strategies at
same: improving patient care and advancing the organizational level. Both models were
the discipline of nursing. The importance developed specifically to bridge the gap
of using research findings in clinical prac- between research and practice. Both recom-
tice has been discussed for at least 45 years. mended that organizational resources, such
The first research utilization models were as personnel, equipment, time, and money, be
developed in the 1970s, beginning with the available to support the nursing staff. Policy,
Western Interstate Commission for Higher procedures, committee structures, and role
Education in Nursing (WCHEN) Regional expectations must exist in relation to staff
Program for Nursing Research Development involvement in research utilization activities.
(Krueger, 1978). Other models included Both models also supported a fundamental
the Conduct and Utilization of Research in belief that research can and must be applied
Nursing (CURN) project (Horsley, Crane, to practice if patient care is to improve.
Crabtree, & Wood, 1983), the Stetler/Marram The Stetler/Marram model was devel-
model (Stetler, 1994), the Iowa model of oped primarily for use at the individual level
research in practice (Titler et al., 1994), and and specifically outlined the role clinical
the Retrieval and Application of Research in specialists have in facilitating the application
Nursing (RARIN) model (Bostrom & Wise, of research findings to clinical practice. The
1994). This list is not exhaustive; rather, it is model includes specific steps related to the
a representation of several well-known and need for a sound foundation in the conduct
referenced models found in the literature. of research, and what is more important,
The WCHEN model was focused on it demonstrates how to interpret and vali-
cross-organizational planning and enhanc- date findings that can be used to change the
ing the value for research utilization. Nurses practice.
from a variety of clinical agencies were pro- The RARIN model, funded by a National
vided with 3 days of research training. Each library of Medicine grant, was developed at
clinician would identify a clinical problem, Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto,
review the research in that area, and develop CA. Distinct from the other models, which
a plan for implementing and evaluating the focused on providing nurse education, skill
outcomes of the practice change. The annual building, and organization support strate-
Communicating Nursing Research confer- gies, the RARIN model focused on improving
ences also resulted from the initial WCHEN staff access to research findings through the
work group, with emphasis on dissemina- use of computerized linkages to established
tion of research results across academic and research databases. Training a small set of
nursing service settings. There have been 30 nurses from each unit on the use of the com-
conferences prior to 1997. puter network and the basics of the research
The CURN project was a federally critique was the other major component. The
funded initiative that focused on the use computer technology provided direct access