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Attitude Towards Research Evidence Utilization in Radiography Practice

Received: 23 July 2017     Accepted: 16 August 2017     Published: 9 October 2017
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Abstract

The advent of technological innovations into medical imaging has undoubtedly revolutionized the approach to patient care in radiological settings. Consequently, clinical imaging professionals must always strive to keep abreast with research evidence in order to keep approach to patient care relevant, current, result-oriented, appropriate and cost-effective. However, there is little information on how research evidence utilization (REU) is perceived and practiced by radiographers in Nigeria. As a result, this study aimed to gain a better understanding of the attitude and perceptions of radiographers to the use of research evidence in practice. A total of 40 licensed and practicing radiographers in both public and private hospitals in South-east Nigeria were surveyed using well-structured questionnaires. Data collected were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS v. 17). The results of the evaluation of knowledge, interest and perception of respondents about research utilization shows that many respondents (75%) agree that radiographers should be involved in health research and that research utilization will improve patient outcomes (68%). Many (72%) disagree that radiographers don’t engage in research activities but few of the respondents (32%) admit that radiographers utilize research evidence in practice. Majority of the respondents (74%) don’t perceive lack of interest as a barrier to REU in radiography practice. Further results show that radiographers do not utilize research evidence due to poor knowledge of what constitutes quality evidence (68%), don’t know how to implement it (72%) or limited by institutional/organizational factors (75%). However, most radiographers (78%) agree that addressing the issues raised in this research evaluation will encourage REU in radiography practice. These findings from this study suggest that the majority of radiographers hold favorable attitude and beliefs toward research utilization but exhibit poor implementation of research evidence in practice due to peculiar barriers. It is believed that addressing these challenges will ensure the effective REU in radiography practice. Radiographers are also encouraged to consider new resources aimed at facilitating best practice and guidelines. Policies, tailored to increase adherence to best imaging practice and ensure improved patient outcomes, should also be formulated at local, state and federal government levels.

Published in Biomedical Statistics and Informatics (Volume 2, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.bsi.20170204.15
Page(s) 162-165
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Research Utilization, Evidence, Evidence-based Practice, Radiography

References
[1] Marjan Laal. Innovation Process in Medical Imaging. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 2013: 81: 60-64.
[2] Tong A, Mahady SE, Craig JC, et al Radiologists’ perspectives about evidence-based medicine and their clinical practice: a semistructured interview study BMJ Open 2014; 4: 006199.
[3] Ugwu et al. Evidence based medical imaging practice in Nigeria: A paradigm or a placebo? European Journal of Radiography. 2009 1: (4) 169-172.
[4] Solomons NM, Spross JA. Evidence-based practice barriers and facilitators from a continuous quality improvement perspective: an integrative review. J Nurs Manag. 2011.
[5] Squires J, Estabrooks C, Gustavsson P, Wallin L. Individual determinants of research utilization by nurses: a systematic review update. Implement Sci. 2011; 6: 1.
[6] Kloda LA, Bartlett JC. Clinical information behavior of rehabilitation therapists: a review of the research on occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists. J Med Libr Assoc. 2009; 97: 194–202.
[7] Thomas A, Law M. Research Utilization and Evidence-Based Practice in Occupational Therapy: A Scoping Study. Am J Occup Ther. 2013; 67: 55–65.
[8] Dale AE. “Evidence-based Practice: Compatibility with Nursing”. Nurs Stand 2005; 19(40): 48-53.
[9] Dobbins M, Ciliska D, Cockerill R, Barnsley J, Di Censo A, A Framework for the Dissemination and Utilization of Research for Health-care Policy and practice, Online J Knowl Synth Nurs. 2002 Nov 18; 9: 7.
[10] Estabrooks CA, Wallin L, Milner M. Measuring Knowledge Utilization in Health care. International Journal of Policy Analysis & Evaluation. 2003; 1: 3-36.
[11] Fink R, Thompson CJ, Bonnes D, Overcoming Barriers and Promoting the use of Research in Practice, J Nurs Adm. 2005 Mar; 35(3): 121-9.
[12] French, P. What is the Evidence on Evidence-based Nursing? An Epistemological Concern. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2002; 37(3), 250-257.
[13] Gray Southon, The Role of Professional Networks in Radiology Services, Pan Am J Public Health 2006; 20(3): 45-8.
[14] Tadyanemhandu et al. Utilisation of research evidence in clinical practice to improve health care delivery- practices, attitudes and challenges faced by physiotherapists in Zimbabwe: a descriptive cross sectional study. Safety in Health. 2016: 2: 11.
[15] Sanjari Mahnaz et al, Barriers and facilitators of nursing research utilization in Iran: A systematic review. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2015 Sep-Oct; 20(5): 529–539.
[16] Chukwuani Anselm, Omiyi David, Eneje Obinna. Spectrum of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Patients with Head Injury in a Nigerian Population. International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences. 2017: 2: 4. 92-94.
[17] Zhou Fen, Manfred Maier, Yufang Hao, Ling Tang, Hong Guo, Hongxia Liu, and Yu Liu. Barriers to Research Utilization among Registered Nurses in Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Survey in China. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015 (2015), 475340.
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  • APA Style

    Anselm Ejike Chukwuani, Abimbola Osanaiye, Franklin Eneje Obinna. (2017). Attitude Towards Research Evidence Utilization in Radiography Practice. Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, 2(4), 162-165. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bsi.20170204.15

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    ACS Style

    Anselm Ejike Chukwuani; Abimbola Osanaiye; Franklin Eneje Obinna. Attitude Towards Research Evidence Utilization in Radiography Practice. Biomed. Stat. Inform. 2017, 2(4), 162-165. doi: 10.11648/j.bsi.20170204.15

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    AMA Style

    Anselm Ejike Chukwuani, Abimbola Osanaiye, Franklin Eneje Obinna. Attitude Towards Research Evidence Utilization in Radiography Practice. Biomed Stat Inform. 2017;2(4):162-165. doi: 10.11648/j.bsi.20170204.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.bsi.20170204.15,
      author = {Anselm Ejike Chukwuani and Abimbola Osanaiye and Franklin Eneje Obinna},
      title = {Attitude Towards Research Evidence Utilization in Radiography Practice},
      journal = {Biomedical Statistics and Informatics},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {162-165},
      doi = {10.11648/j.bsi.20170204.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bsi.20170204.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.bsi.20170204.15},
      abstract = {The advent of technological innovations into medical imaging has undoubtedly revolutionized the approach to patient care in radiological settings. Consequently, clinical imaging professionals must always strive to keep abreast with research evidence in order to keep approach to patient care relevant, current, result-oriented, appropriate and cost-effective. However, there is little information on how research evidence utilization (REU) is perceived and practiced by radiographers in Nigeria. As a result, this study aimed to gain a better understanding of the attitude and perceptions of radiographers to the use of research evidence in practice. A total of 40 licensed and practicing radiographers in both public and private hospitals in South-east Nigeria were surveyed using well-structured questionnaires. Data collected were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS v. 17). The results of the evaluation of knowledge, interest and perception of respondents about research utilization shows that many respondents (75%) agree that radiographers should be involved in health research and that research utilization will improve patient outcomes (68%). Many (72%) disagree that radiographers don’t engage in research activities but few of the respondents (32%) admit that radiographers utilize research evidence in practice. Majority of the respondents (74%) don’t perceive lack of interest as a barrier to REU in radiography practice. Further results show that radiographers do not utilize research evidence due to poor knowledge of what constitutes quality evidence (68%), don’t know how to implement it (72%) or limited by institutional/organizational factors (75%). However, most radiographers (78%) agree that addressing the issues raised in this research evaluation will encourage REU in radiography practice. These findings from this study suggest that the majority of radiographers hold favorable attitude and beliefs toward research utilization but exhibit poor implementation of research evidence in practice due to peculiar barriers. It is believed that addressing these challenges will ensure the effective REU in radiography practice. Radiographers are also encouraged to consider new resources aimed at facilitating best practice and guidelines. Policies, tailored to increase adherence to best imaging practice and ensure improved patient outcomes, should also be formulated at local, state and federal government levels.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Attitude Towards Research Evidence Utilization in Radiography Practice
    AU  - Anselm Ejike Chukwuani
    AU  - Abimbola Osanaiye
    AU  - Franklin Eneje Obinna
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    JF  - Biomedical Statistics and Informatics
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    AB  - The advent of technological innovations into medical imaging has undoubtedly revolutionized the approach to patient care in radiological settings. Consequently, clinical imaging professionals must always strive to keep abreast with research evidence in order to keep approach to patient care relevant, current, result-oriented, appropriate and cost-effective. However, there is little information on how research evidence utilization (REU) is perceived and practiced by radiographers in Nigeria. As a result, this study aimed to gain a better understanding of the attitude and perceptions of radiographers to the use of research evidence in practice. A total of 40 licensed and practicing radiographers in both public and private hospitals in South-east Nigeria were surveyed using well-structured questionnaires. Data collected were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS v. 17). The results of the evaluation of knowledge, interest and perception of respondents about research utilization shows that many respondents (75%) agree that radiographers should be involved in health research and that research utilization will improve patient outcomes (68%). Many (72%) disagree that radiographers don’t engage in research activities but few of the respondents (32%) admit that radiographers utilize research evidence in practice. Majority of the respondents (74%) don’t perceive lack of interest as a barrier to REU in radiography practice. Further results show that radiographers do not utilize research evidence due to poor knowledge of what constitutes quality evidence (68%), don’t know how to implement it (72%) or limited by institutional/organizational factors (75%). However, most radiographers (78%) agree that addressing the issues raised in this research evaluation will encourage REU in radiography practice. These findings from this study suggest that the majority of radiographers hold favorable attitude and beliefs toward research utilization but exhibit poor implementation of research evidence in practice due to peculiar barriers. It is believed that addressing these challenges will ensure the effective REU in radiography practice. Radiographers are also encouraged to consider new resources aimed at facilitating best practice and guidelines. Policies, tailored to increase adherence to best imaging practice and ensure improved patient outcomes, should also be formulated at local, state and federal government levels.
    VL  - 2
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Author Information
  • Department of Radiology, Reddington Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

  • Department of Radiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria

  • Department of Radiology, Garki General Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria

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