Aspects of nursing with evidence-base when nursing frail older adults: a phenomenographic analysis of interviews with nurses in municipal care.

INTRODUCTION In earlier research as well as in political discussion and documents, the topic of evidence has been highlighted as one of the most important concerns in nursing care. This study focuses on understanding what lies behind nurses' ways of acting regarding evidence-based nursing through an illumination of the way they perceive the phenomena. AIM The aim was to identify and describe the different ways municipal care nurses perceive aspects of working with evidence when nursing frail older adults. METHODS An explorative design with a phenomenographic approach based on interviews with nurses working with home-based care within the municipality was used in order to gain understanding of nurse's perceptions of the phenomena. RESULTS Findings revealed that the nurses perceived a variety of aspects when working with evidence when nursing frail older people. Aspects with a spectra of different perceptions shown in the analysis were as follows: Evidence-based nursing as a desired intention/mission, lack of practical supporting structures to apply evidence, lack of confidence in own capacity to apply evidence and a belief that it will work anyway. CONCLUSIONS Findings reveal that it is a challenge to implement research both on an individual as well as on an organisational level. Understanding the contextual perceptions of evidence by nurses can cast light on the barriers as well as the prerequisites of working with evidence while caring for frail older adults in municipal care.