Exploring the views of nurse managers on research utilization in clinical nursing and midwifery practice

Context Globally, there is growing emphasis on research utilization in healthcare. Nurse managers, as key figures in healthcare management, play a crucial role in research utilization in clinical nursing and midwifery practice through coordinating nursing and midwifery activities and implement organizational policies. However, their perspectives on research utilization have not been fully explored, especially in the African context Aim The study aimed to explore the views of nurse managers on research utilization in clinical nursing and midwifery practice applying the Rogers’ theory of diffusion of innovation. Methods A qualitative descriptive study design was employed. Heads of nursing and midwifery services in six hospitals were engaged in in-depth interviews. The recorded interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Results Four themes emerged from the analysed data: Positive views about research utilization; Reflection on readiness for research utilization; Barriers to implementing research utilization in clinical practice; and Solutions for creating research utilization-friendly environments. The nurse managers perceive research utilization as enabling awareness of new trends, and that it is evidence-based and has real-world applications. Conclusion Nurse managers view research utilization as a vehicle for staying abreast with emerging trends, grounded in evidence, and with tangible real-world applications. Nurse managers can enhance research utilization in clinical practice by fostering a culture of evidence-based decision-making among their staff. They play a key role in identifying and mitigating barriers to research utilization, such as lengthy organizational processes, and promoting a research culture by actively endorsing and facilitating policies and regulations on research activities.