Predicting Research Use in Nursing Organizations

Findings suggest that investigations into mechanisms that influence research utilization must address influences at multiple levels of the organization, and require careful attention to both methodological and interpretative challenges present when dealing with multiple units of analysis.

Abstract

Variation in research utilization was explained mainly by differences in individual characteristics, with specialty- and organizational-level factors contributing relatively little by comparison. Among hospital-level factors, hospital size was the only significant determinant of research utilization. Although organizational determinants explained less variance in the model, they were still statistically significant when analyzed alone. These findings suggest that investigations into mechanisms that influence research utilization must address influences at multiple levels of the organization. Such investigations will require careful attention to both methodological and interpretative challenges present when dealing with multiple units of analysis.