Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the results of nursing technique research are being used in practice and in education, by investigating the actual state of the use of nursing techniques which are based on handed down knowledge or gained from experience. Method: A questionnaire survey on nursing skills - (1) techniques that have been proven by research, (2) unproven techniques, (3) techniques whose proof is doubtful-was conducted on 476 nurses and nurse educators, who had joined training workshops held by nursing associations, etc. Results: A total of 458 questionnaires were collected (96.2% response rate), of which 374 were valid (81.7% valid response rate). (1), e.g., a cold compress for IV infiltration, was used by 21.4%; (2), e.g., making a fist around the thumb in taking a blood sample, was used by 90.1%; (3), e.g., stool extraction before enema, was used by 27.5％. Conclusion: Techniques that have been substantiated by data were not being used, while unproven but handed down techniques and doubtful techniques were in use. This indicates that there is a gap between research results and their clinical and educational use. Thus, a current challenge to promoting the application of research outcomes is to enable easy access to them, and facilitate sharing.
