Abstract
Nursing research can support improved clinical outcomes for patients and nursing workforce outcomes, such as workplace engagement and job retention. However, nurses report significant barriers to research engagement, such as limited time, lack of mentorship, and insufficient access to resources.1 In 2024 our Magnet-designated organization implemented Ovid® Synthesis, a structured virtual platform designed to help clinical staff complete research projects.
The aim of this project is to examine how Ovid® Synthesis addresses known barriers to research participation and influences staff perception and engagement in scholarly work.
A survey was distributed via REDCap to clinical staff registered with Ovid® Synthesis (N=591) to gauge their experiences in research initiatives before and after implementation. The 25-item survey queried demographics, time spent on research projects with and without platform use, satisfaction ratings, and Likert-scale assessments of perceived research facilitation. The five-point Likert-scale ranged from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree,” with an N/A option that would exclude the answer from analysis. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon-signed rank tests to compare time spent on research activities pre and post implementation.
Forty-five responses were received. The largest proportion of respondents were clinical staff (46.7%) with the other half of the sample representing educators (20%) and leadership and administration (26.7%). Survey data showed significantly (p<.05) decreased hours spent preparing for (18.7 vs. 10.8), conducting (30.2 vs. 15.9), and disseminating projects (28.5 vs 10.4), as well as staff endorsement of increased job satisfaction (mean=4.02) and increased belief in ability to engage in research (mean=4.14). Participants also endorsed that the platform fosters spirit of inquiry and recognition of the importance of research and QI (mean=4.17).
Supporting staff nurses and allied health professionals in research participation is a strategic approach to strengthening the work environment. When staff are empowered to pursue scholarly inquiry, it reflects organizational commitment to professional growth, psychological safety, and career advancement. Our findings suggest that investing in supportive technologies can promote staff participation and reduce time burdens in research, while fostering a culture of learning, innovation, and satisfaction.
Notes
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References:
Fredericks, S., Sanders, J., Back, M., Desteghe, L., Gomes, A., Marques-Sule, E., Simpson, M., & Hendriks, J. M. (2025). Nurses and allied professionals' engagement in clinical research-in-practice: a statement of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions of the European Society of Cardiology. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs., 24, 185–193.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Workforce, Competence, Coaching, Emerging Technologies
Recommended Citation
Haskell, Rachael; Samson, Zoe; Peterson, Justin; and Hyrkas, Kristiina, "Supportive Technology Promotes Research Engagement Among Nurses and Allied Health Professionals" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 125.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/125
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-08-05
Supportive Technology Promotes Research Engagement Among Nurses and Allied Health Professionals
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nursing research can support improved clinical outcomes for patients and nursing workforce outcomes, such as workplace engagement and job retention. However, nurses report significant barriers to research engagement, such as limited time, lack of mentorship, and insufficient access to resources.1 In 2024 our Magnet-designated organization implemented Ovid® Synthesis, a structured virtual platform designed to help clinical staff complete research projects.
The aim of this project is to examine how Ovid® Synthesis addresses known barriers to research participation and influences staff perception and engagement in scholarly work.
A survey was distributed via REDCap to clinical staff registered with Ovid® Synthesis (N=591) to gauge their experiences in research initiatives before and after implementation. The 25-item survey queried demographics, time spent on research projects with and without platform use, satisfaction ratings, and Likert-scale assessments of perceived research facilitation. The five-point Likert-scale ranged from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree,” with an N/A option that would exclude the answer from analysis. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon-signed rank tests to compare time spent on research activities pre and post implementation.
Forty-five responses were received. The largest proportion of respondents were clinical staff (46.7%) with the other half of the sample representing educators (20%) and leadership and administration (26.7%). Survey data showed significantly (p<.05) decreased hours spent preparing for (18.7 vs. 10.8), conducting (30.2 vs. 15.9), and disseminating projects (28.5 vs 10.4), as well as staff endorsement of increased job satisfaction (mean=4.02) and increased belief in ability to engage in research (mean=4.14). Participants also endorsed that the platform fosters spirit of inquiry and recognition of the importance of research and QI (mean=4.17).
Supporting staff nurses and allied health professionals in research participation is a strategic approach to strengthening the work environment. When staff are empowered to pursue scholarly inquiry, it reflects organizational commitment to professional growth, psychological safety, and career advancement. Our findings suggest that investing in supportive technologies can promote staff participation and reduce time burdens in research, while fostering a culture of learning, innovation, and satisfaction.
Description
Organizational supports can reduce barriers to research participation among nurses and allied health professionals, which can in turn support healthy work environments. Using a modified survey tool, this project assessed whether use of an internet-based research platform facilitates staff engagement in research and impacts users’ experiences conducting research activities.