This eploratory study in the field of nursing informatics examined the usage of information technology, namely on-line access to MEDLINE in clinical setting, by a convenience sample of 121 nurses from a large university hospital. A descriptive correlational design was used. Guided by the conceptual frameword of Nurse-Computer Interaction and based on variables set forth in the Theroy of Reasoned Action, the study tested hypotheses regarding attitudinal and normative influences on reported use of on-line bibliographic retrieval systems. It was also hypothesized that using MEDLINE coild increase and improve nurses' adoption of nursing research findings.

Multiple regression analyses were conducted on nurses’ responses to survey questions to test hypotheses-that those who register more favorable attitudes towards nursing research would have a higher reported use of the MEDLINE system. Findings were significant and supported the hypothesis that nurses' attitudes towareds research influenced MEDLINE usage. Findings also indicated that MEDLINE usage was significantly related to nurses' research utilization.