A Gap Analysis of Nurses’ Research Competence and the Effectiveness of an Intervention Based on the SERVQUAL Model

A Gap Analysis of Nurses’ Research Competence and the Effectiveness of an Intervention Based on the SERVQUAL Model | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article A Gap Analysis of Nurses’ Research Competence and the Effectiveness of an Intervention Based on the SERVQUAL Model Lihua Shan, Jiefen Ou, Juanya Chen, Zirong Liu, Xiangchuan Hou, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8497704/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Objective Based on the SERVQUAL model, this study aimed to systematically evaluate the gaps between nurses’ research competence and multidimensional reference standards, develop targeted intervention strategies, and assess the effectiveness of the intervention after a two-year implementation period. Methods A quasi-experimental study design was adopted. At baseline, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among nurses in a tertiary hospital using the Nurses’ Research Competence Self-Assessment Scale and the Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire to assess their research competence. The SERVQUAL model was introduced to analyze the structural gaps between nurses’ research competence and relevant reference standards from managerial and service perspectives. A structured intervention program for enhancing nurses’ research competence was then developed and continuously implemented for two years. After the intervention, the same instruments were administered to reassess nurses’ research competence, and changes before and after the intervention were compared. Results Baseline findings indicated a generally low level of research competence among nurses. After two years of targeted research training and support, the total research competence score and scores across all dimensions were significantly higher than those before the intervention (P < 0.05), with an overall narrowing trend in research competence gaps. Conclusion Applying the SERVQUAL model to nurses’ research competence assessment facilitates the identification of critical weaknesses in research capacity development and provides a scientific basis for designing targeted interventions. Systematic and sustained research training programs can effectively enhance nurses’ research competence, reduce multidimensional gaps, and promote the integration of nursing research with clinical practice. Service Quality Gap Model (SERVQUAL) Nurses' Research Competence Gap Analysis Research Competence Intervention Evidence-Based Nursing Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 28 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 04 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 03 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 02 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 02 Feb, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8497704","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":585683822,"identity":"40aacdb5-8375-48db-aafa-8201305901cb","order_by":0,"name":"Lihua Shan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Guangdong Pharmaceutical University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lihua","middleName":"","lastName":"Shan","suffix":""},{"id":585683831,"identity":"cf9ecb0b-3385-487d-ae51-16f7646ac5c9","order_by":1,"name":"Jiefen Ou","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, South China University of 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At baseline, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among nurses in a tertiary hospital using the Nurses’ Research Competence Self-Assessment Scale and the Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire to assess their research competence. The SERVQUAL model was introduced to analyze the structural gaps between nurses’ research competence and relevant reference standards from managerial and service perspectives. A structured intervention program for enhancing nurses’ research competence was then developed and continuously implemented for two years. After the intervention, the same instruments were administered to reassess nurses’ research competence, and changes before and after the intervention were compared.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBaseline findings indicated a generally low level of research competence among nurses. After two years of targeted research training and support, the total research competence score and scores across all dimensions were significantly higher than those before the intervention (P \u0026lt; 0.05), with an overall narrowing trend in research competence gaps.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApplying the SERVQUAL model to nurses’ research competence assessment facilitates the identification of critical weaknesses in research capacity development and provides a scientific basis for designing targeted interventions. Systematic and sustained research training programs can effectively enhance nurses’ research competence, reduce multidimensional gaps, and promote the integration of nursing research with clinical practice.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"A Gap Analysis of Nurses’ Research Competence and the Effectiveness of an Intervention Based on the SERVQUAL Model","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-06 19:21:51","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8497704/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-28T23:37:18+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"337010327511813830350534241134972287680","date":"2026-02-09T07:58:32+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"331487340457953053119775348805081388595","date":"2026-02-04T11:59:26+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-02-04T05:21:44+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-02-03T13:55:07+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-02-02T07:37:45+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Nursing","date":"2026-02-02T07:18:43+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-nursing","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"nurs","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Nursing](http://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/nurs/default.aspx","title":"BMC Nursing","twitterHandle":"@BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"edec6492-1943-4d6e-ab21-e93d6ad11b8f","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 6th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-06T19:21:51+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-06 19:21:51","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8497704","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8497704","identity":"rs-8497704","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}