Research activities and perceptions of barriers to research utilization among Turkish nurses.

Background: This study assessed the barriers to the use of research in nursing practice among Turkish registered nurses.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 718 nurses in three hospitals was conducted. The data collection instrument used for the study consisted of the Barriers to Research Utilization Scale and a self-administered questionnaire that included demographic data, educational background, and nurses' involvement in research activities.

Results: Almost half of the participants (48.5%) responded that they had attended academic conferences in the past 2 years. Most of the participants had not published a research article (90.5%), and 23.4% reported that they had never read research articles. Seven items within the top 10 barriers were found on the setting subscale.

Conclusion: The results describe the research activities and perceptions of the barriers to the use of research among nurses in Turkey. Creating an organizational climate that values research use and supports nurses in participating in research activities is crucial.