Nursing research is recognized as an essential basis for the continuous development of the scientific nursing knowledge and practice. An understanding of the barriers and attitudes to research among nurses is important to improve clinical nursing research activities.

Data were collected from nurses at a general hospital, located in D city, using a self-reported questionnaire, from March 15th to April 4th, 2003, and 133 questionnaires were used for the analyses. A 5 pointscale instrument was used to measure barriers and attitudes towards nursing research, with a Cronbach's alpha of .85 and .89, respectively.

Nurses had limited experience in research and were not well prepared to conduct it. Lack of experience, training and time were the major barriers for conducting research. However, the nurses had positive attitudes toward research. There was a difference in barriers (t=2.68, p=.02) and research attitudes (t=-2.74, p=.00) according to the nurses' position. Also, the nurses' research experience influenced research attitudes (t=-3.27, p=.00). The degree of research preparation (F=6.98, p=.00) had an effect on the attitudes toward nursing research but not on the barriers.

There is an urgent need to promote both the ability and environment for clinical nurses to actively participate in research. As the majority of nurses had little experience and low confidence in research and perceived many barriers, this promotion can be accomplished by enhancing their confidence in research through continuing education and by gradually eliminating the barriers to research.

This study is to investigate the influencing factors in the consistent use of contraception methods by comparing consistent and inconsistent users on partner communication, contraceptive control perception, and sexual autonomy among married Korean women.

This study consists of 243 married women living in Korea. A convenient sampling technique was used and data were collected by self report questionnaires from September 14, 2000 to October 20, 2000.

Only 41.6% of women were using contraception methods consistently and the rest of them were using contraception methods inconsistently. Between the two groups, statistical significances were noted in sexual communication(t=-2.5, p=.01), perceived contraceptive control(t=-7.5, p=.00) and sexual autonomy(t=-3.1, p=.00). As for general communication, it was not statistically significant(t=-1.0, p=.31).

Family planning program advisors should recognize that intervention programs for the promotion of consistent contraceptive behavior should focus on the sexual communication, perceived contraceptive control, and sexual autonomy.