Using mixed-methods in evidence-based nursing: a scoping review guided by a socio-ecological perspective

Abstract

Background Increased pressure for evidence-based practice in nursing necessitates that researchers use effective approaches. Mixed-methods research (MMR) has potential to improve the knowledge and implementation of evidence-based nursing (EBN) by generating outcome-based and contextually-focused evidence. Aims To identify methodological trends in how MMR is used in EBN research. Methods Searches were completed in PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar using the terms “nursing”, “mixed-methods”, and “evidence-based”. Seventy-two articles using MMR to address EBN and published 2000–2021 were reviewed across content themes and methodological domains of the Socio-Ecological Framework for MMR. Results Mixed-methods research has been used to study how EBN strategies are perceived, developed and assessed, and implemented or evaluated. A few studies provided an MMR definition reflecting the methods perspective, and the dominant MMR rationale was gaining a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The leading design was concurrent, and half of studies intersected MMR with evaluation, action/participatory, and/or case-study approaches. Research quality was primarily assessed using criteria specific to quantitative and qualitative approaches. Conclusions Mixed-methods research has great potential to enhance EBN research by generating more clinically useful findings and helping nurses understand how to identify and implement the best available research evidence in practice.