Our study took place at Gécamines Sud Hospital, Jason Sendwe Provincial Referral Hospital, and university clinics in Lubumbashi ( Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).

Base map source: OpenStreetMap, courtesy of the OpenStreetMap Humanitarian Team.

We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study, during the period from February 27 to July 31, 2024.

All nurses employed in selected healthcare facilities.

Any nurse present during the study period and those who agreed to participate freely in the study.

Any nurse from the selected hospitals who was unavailable and/or absent at the time of our study visit and any nurse who did not work in all three hospitals.

We used purposive sampling, including all nurses present in the three targeted hospitals at the time of the study, for a total of 60 nurses. This choice was explained by the desire to capture the reality on the ground without arbitrary exclusion, taking into account logistical constraints and participant availability. No formal sample size calculation was performed, but the chosen size is consistent with that of similar exploratory studies conducted in comparable hospital settings. The study opted for purposive sampling, that is, non-probability sampling where participants are selected according to specific criteria and based on their availability at the time of the survey. This method is particularly suitable in this context for several reasons:

In the context of this study, “research participation” is defined as the active involvement of a nurse in conducting, carrying out, or contributing to a scientific nursing research project. This includes the following:

It is important to distinguish this active participation from the simple use of research results in daily practice, which is not considered here as a direct involvement in the production of scientific knowledge. The study specifies that confusion between «Doing Research» and «Using Research Results» sometimes exists among nurses, hence the need to clearly define this criterion.

We used the interview technique using a pre-established questionnaire that we pre-tested.

We used Epi-Info 7 and Excel software for data coding, entry, and in-depth analysis. Data governance was ensured through the implementation of master data management policies and procedures to ensure data quality, compliance, and efficiency. This included data lifecycle management, defining roles and responsibilities, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The questionnaire was developed based on a literature review and adapted to the local context. It was pre-tested with a small group of five nurses not included in the final sample to ensure clarity and relevance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted qualitatively. Qualitative data analysis followed a thematic approach, identifying key themes related to barriers and facilitators to the research. Quantitative data were processed with Epi-Info 7 and Excel, using descriptive statistics.

The confidentiality of the collected data and the anonymity of the participants were respected, in accordance with fundamental ethical principles, such as those set out in the Declaration of Helsinki, and taking into account the national guidelines for the ethical review of research involving human subjects in the DRC. Data collection was authorized using a form issued by the School of Public Health, countersigned by the heads of the hospitals concerned. Data collection was carried out while respecting the anonymity of the respondents and the confidentiality of the responses.

In view of Table 1 , the most represented age group was that of 46 - 55 years, or 38.30% of nurses, the average age was 51.7 ± 7.5 years with extremes of 28 to 68 yearsrs.The majority of nurses (56.60%) were registered nurses, 88% of whom were managers and 12% of whom were department heads. In 63.30% of cases, the nurses had between 21 and 35 years of experience.

According to Table 2 , 93.30% of nurses do not conduct scientific research. The high proportion (93.3%) of nurses not involved in research, and the main obstacles identified (lack of financial resources, time, institutional support). The statistical methods used are mainly descriptive, adapted to the size and type of sample.

According to Table 3 , 89.28% of respondents state that the lack of financial resources is the factor that prevents them from conducting nursing research, while 76.78% mention the lack of will and institutional support (35.71%). Nevertheless, the results are discussed in relation to similar studies, particularly on organizational and individual obstacles to nursing research, confirming the general trends while highlighting the specificities of the Lubumbashi context.

It is evident from this table that 75.00% of respondents state that computer skills are the main factor that facilitates nursing research, as shown into the results of Table 4 .

Our results show that the most represented age group was 46 - 55 years, or 38.30% of nurses. Women predominated with 91.70% of nurses and the sex ratio was 0.09. These results are contrary to the results of [7] , where the mean age was 41.49 years (± 11.39 years), 62.2% were women with a sex ratio of 0.6, and the mean number of years of experience was 18.08 years (± 11.44 years). The majority of nurses (56.60%) had a higher education level. Nursing academy and higher education positively influence evidence-based practice among nurses [11] . In fact, studies show that the higher the level of education, the more nurses report knowing the steps of evidence-based practice (EBP) and feeling empowered to implement it [2] .

In this study, we found that 93.30% of nurses are not inclined towards nursing research. Our results are similar to those of Clenet (2014), who found that nurses do not participate in research. However, our results are contrary to those of [7] ; where 80.60% of nurses were engaged in nursing research. This is explained by the diversity of environments and fields of study.

Our study found that 37.70% of nurses lack financial resources, 23.20% lack time to conduct research, and lack institutional support. Our findings are consistent with those of the study [9] , which reflects the lack of financial resources, also revealing the lack of time to devote to research. Both studies converge on a worrying finding: the lack of financial resources, a recurring problem in the field of nursing. Lack of funding can hinder the adoption of new technologies or new methods of care, thus preventing nurses from keeping up to date with the latest scientific advances. Our study converges on a conclusion similar to that of [13] , 2017, where lack of time is a major obstacle for 62.6% of nurses. Approximately 17.90% of nurses do not have the necessary institutional support to carry out their scientific research [14] .

The results highlight four main barriers: institutional barriers, lack of knowledge, lack of motivation, and time management. Our results complement this list by specifically highlighting that 17.90% of nurses perceive a lack of institutional support for conducting their research.

Several studies have indicated that only a few nurses participate and implement research in their practices (Mckee, 2017 and Kousar et al., 2017; Kousar, R., Kousar, R., Azhar, M., Waqas, A., & Gilani, S., 2017). Barriers to Research Use in Nursing Practices in Public Hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology.

The lack of institutional support identified in our study is a key element. This lack of support can manifest itself in the absence of dedicated research resources, time allocated to research, and even recognition of research activity. Researchers often reported having a lot of work to complete during their shifts and lacking time to complete questionnaires. Furthermore, since this research is considered «work,» it would be inadvisable to conduct it outside of working hours.

The majority of respondents did not have access to the Internet and were not proficient in using a computer [15] , which highlights the invaluable opportunity offered by the Internet and information and communication technologies. The study of [15] highlights the importance of access to relevant publications via the Internet as a source of innovation. We found that 75% of nurses report that computer skills are the main factor that promotes nursing research. Our results are similar to those of [15] who found that information is now easy to find when one has Oluwatosin, 2014, in a study conducted on the conduct and utilization of research among nurses, as only 21.2% had conducted research, 31.4% had used research findings in clinical practice. Conduct and Utilization of Research Among Nurses in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Factors such as time, organizational policy, mentorship, funds, and awareness of research are some of the major factors influencing nurses’ involvement in research, while awareness of research findings, time spent reading research findings, support from colleagues, and unpublished research influenced the use of research findings and internet browsing, and internet users are quick to share their knowledge and expertise.