Use of research-based practices by oncology staff nurses.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent to which oncology staff nurses adopted eight specific research-based practices and the impact of demographic and resource factors on adoption of these practices.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional mail survey.

SETTING

National.

SAMPLE

1,100.

METHODS

Network sampling techniques: 2,000 Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) staff nurses were randomly and proportionally selected from seven practice setting categories; each ONS nurse was asked to recruit a non-ONS staff nurse colleague. Both groups completed the Oncology Nursing Practice Questionnaire, which measures adoption of eight research-based practices.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES

Extent of adoption, including awareness, persuasion, and implementation of eight specific practices; nurse demographics; and work-related resources.

FINDINGS

Awareness was high, with 53%-96% of nurses reporting awareness of the eight practices. Overall, 28% were aware of all practices while 10% were aware of half or fewer. Less-aware nurses differed from other nurses in demographics and resources. Computed "extent of adoption" scores showed that almost 90% of aware nurses used seven of the practices at least sometimes.

CONCLUSIONS

Oncology staff nurses with awareness of a practice were implementing the practice in their organization.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The findings establish a need for developing educational programs to enhance awareness of specific practices and to creatively reach nurses who are unlikely to seek programs outside their employing agencies.