Challenges in collaborative clinical research in nursing and midwifery: a qualitative study

Effective collaboration between healthcare academia and clinical settings is vital for advancing evidence-based practice. However, systemic fragmentation often prevents academic research from being translated into applied clinical care. This study explored the challenges that hinder research collaboration between nursing and midwifery faculties and hospital environments in Iran. A qualitative descriptive study using conventional content analysis was conducted. Fifteen in-depth semi-structured interviews were performed with nursing and midwifery faculty members ( n = 6), hospital research and nursing managers ( n = 6), and university research managers ( n = 3), selected through purposive maximum-variation sampling. Referral by participants was used only to identify potentially eligible stakeholders within pre-specified stakeholder groups; final inclusion remained subject to the maximum-variation sampling criteria. Data were analyzed using the manifest-content approach described by Graneheim and Lundman, involving meaning units, condensed meaning units, codes, subcategories, and descriptive categories/themes. Analysis generated two main themes: [1] gap between education and clinical practice and [2] managerial and executive challenges. The first theme included insufficient knowledge and attitudes, weak communication skills, and lack of motivation for research collaboration. The second theme comprised ambiguity in research processes and unclear definition of needs and capacities. Participants reported limited alignment between academic research and clinical needs, weak interprofessional communication, lack of incentives, unclear research governance, and insufficient mutual awareness between academic and clinical settings. Collaborative clinical research in nursing and midwifery is hindered by interconnected educational, interpersonal, and organizational barriers. Strengthening academic–clinical partnerships requires clearer governance structures, protected opportunities for collaboration, research-capacity building, explicit mechanisms for aligning clinical needs with academic expertise, and institutional incentives that support sustained joint research.