Nursing research in Spain: bibliometrics of references of research papers in the decade 1985-1994

BACKGROUND

Spain is one of the few European countries to have recently totally incorporated the study of nursing into the university sector. Bibliometric studies may be of a great help for the consolidation of nursing research.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this paper is to describe bibliographic references in Spanish nursing research papers and their evolution over a decade.

METHOD

The method consists of a retrospective bibliometric study of a sample (cluster sampling) of 622 research papers (original papers and review papers), which were contained in the Spanish nursing journals Enfermería Científica, Revista ROL de Enfermería, Enfermería Clínica and Enfermería Integral, and published from 1985 to 1994. The journal Nursing Research was selected for qualitative comparative purposes. A series of classic bibliometric indexes were used.

RESULTS

The mean of references per paper is 10.64 +/- 10.42; this increased over time (P < 0.001). Review papers have more references (P < 0.001). Price index (percentage of references published during the last 5 years) is 44% and the Insularity (percentage of references published in same country as the article) is 55%. References to journals predominate (58.6%), with a growing tendency for references to Spanish nursing journals, although they are still scarce (18.1% of the references to journals). Spanish is the language of most of the references (60.3%), the second language being English (36.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Bibliographic references in Spanish nursing research papers are scarce and not very specific: this happens both in regard to Nursing Research and to publications in other national and international science areas. However, there is an increasing tendency of references (including references to nursing journals) in the period analysed. The age of the references places Spanish nursing in an intermediate position between the 'hard' sciences and the humanities; and, according to the type of documentation used, we find it halfway between experimental and natural sciences, and technologies and social sciences. There has been a slight increase in references in English in recent years.

Triangulation using a meta-matrix

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE

Quantitative and qualitative data analysis are often undertaken as separate enterprises, as they emerge from differing philosophies of science and methodologies for data collection, management and analysis. Quantitative data analysis is sometimes seen in philosophic and methodologic conflict with a naturalistic, human science perspective of science. Researchers interested in data from both realms often rely on triangulation procedures, in which each is considered from its representative lens. Results are then projected out into a common area where data are melded and discussed. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the meta-matrix as a tool for triangulation in nursing research and to demonstrate its usefulness in an exemplar case.

DESIGN/METHODS

The exploratory nature of a recent study led to the decision to manage triangulation using an emerging methodology, thereby allowing consideration of all data simultaneously through the use of a meta-matrix. Discussion of the meta-matrix as a method is presented.

FINDINGS

Use of the meta-matrix facilitated data analysis and allowed pattern recognition across data sets. Discovery of several unexpected relationships deepened understanding of the results and assisted in identifying questions for further research.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS

The meta-matrix method provides a useful alternative approach for secondary-level data analysis in mixed-methods research.

[Nursing research projects in CNPQ (National Council for Scientific and Technologic Development): their trajectory, themes and adherences--1998/2000]

The present study analyses the themes proposed by research projects in nursing. It focuses on the projects that were sent to a Brazilian governmental research fomentation agency--CNPq--in the period of time between November 1998 and November 2000. The objective of this work is to identify the recurrent themes proposed in nursing research projects, and discuss its adherence to lines of research under study by nursing professionals which have the support of CAPES. It also relates these themes to the priorities of research established by CNPq. In order to achieve the objectives mentioned, an exploratory and descriptive study was carried out. The primary sources were evaluation grids of research projects. The secondary sources were studies, written and statistics reports from CNPq. Results show that most of the scholarships awarded by CNPq are in the southeast region of Brazil, where a larger number of researchers and post-graduation programs are concentrated. It also reveals that there is a diversity of themes being explored and that there is a relation between the themes and the parameters adopted for the studies.

Nurses' participation and utilization of research in the Republic of China

A survey was done to improve understanding of nurses' participation in research activities and their utilization of research for practice in one developing country, the Republic of China. The sample for this 1996-1997 study was 382 staff nurses and nurse managers. Using two instruments designed for the project it was found that although research participation was low overall, 64% participated in some research activities with data collection and presentation at national conferences the most frequent activities. Nearly half the nurses had utilized research to change practice in the previous three years. The main barriers to utilization were lack of time and lack of staff. Role models, consultation and guidance to locate useful research were the main types of needed assistance. The findings provide direction for future training, education and managerial policy, especially for nurses in developing countries, which account for 84% of the world's population and 93% of the worldwide burden of disease.

Mediator and moderator variables in nursing research: conceptual and statistical differences

Mediators and moderators are variables that affect the association between an independent variable and an outcome variable. Mediators provide additional information about how or why two variables are strongly associated. In contrast, moderators explain the circumstances that cause a weak or ambiguous association between two variables that were expected to have a strong relationship. Mediators and moderators are often overlooked in research designs, or the terms are used incorrectly. This article summarizes the conceptual differences between mediators and moderators. The statistical analysis of moderators and mediators in multiple regression is briefly described and two examples are presented.

[Nursing research in intensive care: analysis of theses and dissertations]

The proposal this study is to analyse national dissertations and theses on intensive care nursing The author consulted the Catalogues of the Centre of Studies and Research on Nursing--volume 1 (1979) to 15 (1997). The author analysed the abstracts and in order to search for: number of studies, place of presentation, theme and theoretical methodological reference.

Combining qualitative and quantitative sampling, data collection, and analysis techniques in mixed-method studies

Researchers have increasingly turned to mixed-method techniques to expand the scope and improve the analytic power of their studies. Yet there is still relatively little direction on and much confusion about how to combine qualitative and quantitative techniques. These techniques are neither paradigm- nor method-linked; researchers' orientations to inquiry and their methodological commitments will influence how they use them. Examples of sampling combinations include criterion sampling from instrument scores, random purposeful sampling, and stratified purposeful sampling. Examples of data collection combinations include the use of instruments for fuller qualitative description, for validation, as guides for purposeful sampling, and as elicitation devices in interviews. Examples of data analysis combinations include interpretively linking qualitative and quantitative data sets and the transformation processes of qualitizing and quantitizing.

Promoting innovative nursing practice during radical health system change

Between 1995 and 1999, the United States veterans healthcare system underwent a radical transformation. The reinvention effort remains a work in progress, but the results have documented improved access to care, significantly higher service satisfaction, and substantially higher quality of care, while reducing per patient costs by 25%. Although turbulent at times, the changes instituted during this period created a dynamic milieu for nursing that has provided fertile ground for innovation and unprecedented opportunities to improve patient care.

An Integrative Review Illuminates Curricular Applications of Primary Health Care

The International Council of Nurses supported primary health care and advocated its acceptance by other intersectorial stakeholders. Nurse educators involved in curriculum development have respected this direction. To pursue the primary health care vision and influence the adoption of primary health care delivery systems, all principles of primary health care must be implemented simultaneously. An integrative review was conducted to ascertain the interpretation of primary health care held by nurse authors. A content analysis of the nursing literature revealed that 184 of the 254 articles retrieved (72%), applied primary health care in a manner that is consistent with the World Health Organization (WHO) definition. Through curricular applications of different interpretations of the primary health care principles, differences in the created learning environment are discussed. The Declaration of Alma Ata, evolving from beliefs and values shared by 134 member nations present at the Assembly, delineated that primary health care was the accepted infrastructure to guide policies that direct health care delivery systems regardless of the context in the country (WHO, 1978). Even with this overwhelming endorsement, very few countries have made changes in policies and infrastructure for implementing the underlying values and beliefs ascribed in primary health care. Changes that have occurred have not been organized around the vision or the principles of primary health care. This delay has had, and will continue to have, a huge impact on nursing education, practice, and research. Nurses are interested in helping people attain, maintain, or regain health; primary health care has the potential to achieve health for all citizens of the world.

Developing specialty knowledge: the case of Australian critical care nursing

The generation of new knowledge is important to the evolution of the nursing profession and its specialties and is a fundamental requirement for the development of the discipline. This study documents the growth of empirical knowledge in Australian critical care nursing by examining the research published in one critical care specialty journal and a second generalized nursing research journal between 1994 and 1998. The proportion of research published in the specialty journal increased from 25 to 69%, with almost one-half focusing on patient therapies and treatments. The proportion of research in the general journal was consistently high, approximately 80 to 90%, with one to two critical care research articles per year. Nurses were first authors on the vast majority of these research articles. Approximately half of the critical care research focused on patient care. The results support the claim that Australian critical care nurses are conducting research to promote best practice in patient care and are thus contributing to the development of the discipline of nursing.

Perceptions of research utilization: comparisons between health care professionals, nursing students and a reference group of nurse clinicians

The study reported in this paper was carried out to investigate a group of nursing teachers' (n=37), nursing students' (n=166), nursing administrators' (n=33) and physicians' (n=127) perceptions of barriers to and facilitators of nurses' use of research findings in clinical practice. The results were compared with the corresponding figures for a reference group of nurse clinicians (n=237). The Barriers Scale and a questionnaire for the demographic issues were used for data collection. The organization and the communication of research were seen as barriers to research utilization by the nursing teachers, students and administrators in agreement with the nurse clinicians. The nurses' research-related competence and awareness were seen as barriers by the nursing teachers, students and administrators to a greater extent than by the nurse clinicians themselves. The physicians perceived barriers to a lesser extent than the other groups did. The students' perceptions were closest to the nurse clinicians, while the physicians' perceptions differed most. Education to increase the nurses' knowledge of research and to develop their competence to evaluate research results, increased resources for education, more staff, support from the administration and research presented in a user-friendly way were the most frequently suggested facilitators. The nurses' isolation from knowledgeable colleagues with whom to discuss the research was seen as a barrier by the majority of the participants. This indicates a need for positions in clinical practice for nursing researchers, in order to promote a research-based, nursing practice.

Flight nurse research activities

INTRODUCTION

The study purpose was to identify how members of the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA), formerly called the National Flight Nurses Association, use research in their flight nursing practice.

METHODS

A survey was mailed to each ASTNA member requesting demographic data and a description of research activities used in their practice of flight nursing.

RESULTS

Thirty percent of the 1643 members (n = 497) completed the survey. Sixty-four percent (320) of respondents were direct patient care providers, and 47% were certified flight registered nurses (CFRN). Thirteen percent (65) reported that research was mandated in their job description. Sixty-three percent (315) used research to guide practice, and 37% (183) incorporated research into policies and procedures. Thirty percent (149) actively conducted some type of research, 15% (76) presented at national conferences, and 11% (53) published in professional journals.

CONCLUSION

Components of the ASTNA research standard are being met by most flight nurses. However, only a small percentage of these nurses are designing and conducting studies and formally disseminating their research findings. Flight nurses are involved in research, but their overall participation could be improved.

Raising research awareness among midwives and nurses: does it work?

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two approaches to increase research awareness among midwives and nurses.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental with the attitudes of staff in the two groups being measured at two points (January and October 1997).

SAMPLE

All midwives and nurses working in four clinical areas in an acute NHS Trust. The intervention arm of the study involved all midwives and nurses in the Clinical Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, while the control arm involved all nurses working in a specialist oncology and haematology unit and in the children's directorate.

ETHICS

The Joint Ethics Committee considered approval unnecessary because the study involved staff and not patients.

DATA COLLECTION

Data were collected by self-complete questionnaires.

INTERVENTIONS

A programme of education with policy and practice interventions targeted at ward sisters.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Staff attitudes to, knowledge of, and level of involvement in, research.

RESULTS

The study demonstrated a significant increase in both knowledge and use of research resources. Following the programme of education, staff in the intervention group were significantly more likely to use resources associated with research utilization and to report that they had read a research paper within the last month.

STUDY LIMITATIONS

The time scale of the intervention was restricted by the funding available; a significant Hawthorne effect was evident with both groups showing an increase in knowledge; the pragmatic nature of the study meant that it was not possible to randomize the study groups; the scale of the study did not permit an economic evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

The introduction of clinical governance challenges healthcare providers to improve the care they deliver. There are huge opportunities for Trusts to invest in developing staff knowledge and use of research. However, staff will only seize these opportunities if there is an appropriate, enabling environment--an environment that delivers intensive interventions and is sensitive to the wider structural factors in the NHS affecting staff morale and commitment. In the absence of this environment, what may be seen as opportunities to managers may be regarded as just another burden by staff.

Barriers to, and facilitators of, research utilization among nurses in Northern Ireland

It is clear from the nursing literature that there are a number of factors which can impede or facilitate the use of research in practice. It is important that these are identified and addressed, both at local and national levels, if evidence-based practice is to become a reality. This study surveyed nurses' perceptions of barriers to, and facilitators of, research utilization. The Barriers Scale was administered to a convenience sample of 2600 nurses in 23 hospitals in Northern Ireland. The number of completed questionnaires was 1368 (52.6%). The results show that the top barrier was 'The nurse does not feel she/he has enough authority to change patient procedures' followed by 'statistical analyses are not understandable'. Seven out of the top 10 barriers were related to 'setting'. The implications of these and other findings are discussed.

[Instruments for quantitative methods of nursing research]

Instruments for quantitative nursing research are a mean to objectify and measure a variable or a phenomenon in the scientific research. There are direct instruments to measure concrete variables and indirect instruments to measure abstract concepts (Burns, Grove, 1997). Indirect instruments measure the attributes by which a concept is made of. Furthermore, there are instruments for physiologic variables (e.g. for the weight), observational instruments (Check-lists e Rating Scales), interviews, questionnaires, diaries and the scales (Check-lists, Rating Scales, Likert Scales, Semantic Differential Scales e Visual Anologue Scales). The choice to select an instrument or another one depends on the research question and design. Instruments research are very useful in research both to describe the variables and to see statistical significant relationships. Very carefully should be their use in the clinical practice for diagnostic assessment.

A strategy for converting clinical data into research databases

The process of converting clinical information into a research database is complex. Following assemblage of a team including clinicians and researchers (supplemented by statisticians and informatics personnel as needed) a three-phase, eight-step process may be followed for clinical information conversion and database generation. The amount, type, and variety of data stored will greatly increase in the future. This increased availability of databases is useful in research and can expand the opportunities to conduct clinical nursing research. The case study presentation illustrates how individuals from various organizations collaborate to develop accountability systems that best serve the public interest. The purpose of this joint venture was the development and conversion of measures into a database to determine the quality of care for people with diabetes. In addition, opportunities exist for extracting data to examine outcome criteria for patient care.

Barriers to nurses' use of research: an Australian hospital study

Although research is recognised as an essential basis for nursing knowledge and practice development, there is considerable agreement that nurses do not use research as often as they could. The question is, what factors are perceived by nurses in Australia to interfere with their ability to use research in their clinical practice? Using factor analysis procedures, barriers to the use of research by 149 nurses working in an Australian hospital were grouped under three main factors, viz. the perceived usefulness of research to clinical practice; the perceived ability of the practitioner to generate change to practice based on research and the accessibility of research to the practitioner. The three most frequently cited barriers to using research were insufficient time on the job to implement research findings, insufficient time to read research and a lack of awareness of research findings. In order to improve the ability of nurses to apply research to their practice, fundamental changes need to occur within the education system, so as to improve the teaching of research to students of nursing and qualified practitioners, within the health care system where nursing research is expected to be applied and among clinical nurses.

The conceptual structure of research utilization

Despite the fact that the nursing literature is replete with calls to make the practice of nursing research based, little is known about the structure and function of research utilization. The purpose of this study was to explore the conceptual structure of research utilization. Data were collected from a randomly selected sample of 600 registered nurses practicing in western Canada. Using the techniques of structural equation modeling (with LISREL), competing models representing conceptual structures of research utilization were developed and evaluated. In the first model, a simplex style of model, the investigator proposed that a nurse's early responses would influence subsequent responses to the question measuring research utilization, implying a time ordered causal sequence. In the second style of model, a common cause (or factor-like) model, the investigator proposed a stable underlying concept, research utilization, that was relatively insensitive to prompting and time ordering. The simplex style of model failed to reach acceptable indices of fit. The common cause model fit the data well, suggesting that instrumental, conceptual, and persuasive research utilization exist and that a global measure of research utilization may be defensible.

A Triad of Research Roles: Experiential Learning in an Undergraduate Research Course

This article describes an innovative approach to teaching undergraduate research content directly involving students in a faculty research study, and a student research project undertaken in a nursing research course. Junior-level students participated as research subjects in a faculty study focusing on the health perceptions of baccalaureate nursing students, became data collectors in a related student project on the health perceptions of lay people, and became consumers of the research by analyzing the findings and clinical relevance of these studies. This strategy for teaching research assisted students to master undergraduate research content by participatory involvement in several distinct phases of the research process. The project generated considerable interest and served to foster positive attitudes toward nursing research while concurrently increasing students' comfort level with the total process.

A comparison of pre-Project 2000 and Project 2000 nurses' perceptions of their research training, research needs and of their use of research in clinical areas

Most of the literature on the research training and education of nurses has focused on teaching strategies. Only a few authors have assessed systematically the impact of research modules or courses on the knowledge and attitudes of nurses. There is a lack of research on nurses' use of research following their preparation. This paper reports on some of the data from a large-scale survey of the utilization of research among nurses in Northern Ireland. In particular, a comparison is made of the perceptions of pre-Project 2000 and Project 2000 qualified nurses of their research training, research needs, and use of research in clinical areas. A questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of 2600 nurses from 23 hospitals in 14 Trusts in Northern Ireland. The response rate was 52.6% (n = 1368). The findings show, among others, a shortfall in research preparation of pre-Project 2000 nurses in important aspects of research. While Project 2000 nurses reported receiving more training, they did not report higher rates of research utilization than pre-Project 2000 nurses. Registered mental nurses (RMNs) and registered nurses mental handicap (RNMHs) also reported lower rates of research utilization than registered general nurses (RGNs), despite reporting the same amount of research preparation as RGNs. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Uses and abuses of the analysis of covariance

The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) is a powerful analytic tool, but there continue to be abuses of the method. We review assumptions and illustrate legitimate uses of ANCOVA, and summarize statistical packages' approach to the method. Finally, we consider how ANCOVA is used in contemporary nursing research.

The role of computer software in the analysis of qualitative data: efficient clerk, research assistant or Trojan horse?

In the last 15 years there has been a proliferation of computer software packages designed to facilitate qualitative data analysis. The programs can be classified, according to function, into a number of broad categories such as: text retrieval; text base management; coding and retrieval; code-based theory building; and conceptual-network building. The programs vary enormously in the extent to which they can facilitate the diverse analytical processes involved. The decision to use computer software to aid analysis in a particular project may be influenced by a number of factors, such as the nature of the data and the researcher's preferred approach to data analysis which will have as its basis certain epistemological and ontological assumptions. This paper illustrates the way in which a package called NUD.IST facilitated analysis where grounded theory methods of data analysis were also extensively used. While highlighting the many benefits that ensued, the paper illustrates the limitations of such programs. The purpose of this paper is to encourage researchers contemplating the use of computer software to consider carefully the possible consequences of their decision and to be aware that the use of such programs can alter the nature of the analytical process in unexpected and perhaps unwanted ways. The role of the Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDAS) Networking Project, in providing up-to-date information and support for researchers contemplating the use of software, is discussed.

An analysis of research on religious and spiritual variables in three major mental health nursing journals, 1991-1995

A review of quantitative research studies published between 1991 and 1995 in 3 major mental health nursing journals revealed that approximately 10% (31 of 311) included a measure of religion or spirituality. This percentage (10%) is 3 to 8 times higher than that found in previous reviews of empirical research in psychological and psychiatric journals, suggesting that mental health nursing research is more sensitive to the role of religious-spiritual factors on mental health than research in related disciplines. The results are discussed in the context of the history and philosophy of nursing and in comparison to related disciplines. Methodological aspects of the research, especially the importance of multiple measures, are discussed, as are other salient findings.

[Production of scientific papers by nurses from public and private hospitals in the district of Sao Paulo]

This study shows the nurse's scientific publication from seven public and six private hospitals in São Paulo city, from january/1989 to june/1995. From a total of 486 papers identified, 242 were published as abstracts, 124 in annals, 92 in nationals and international journals, 21 as book chapters and 7 as books in nursing. The facilities and difficulties in publishing nursing scientific production were also discussed.

[Nursing research in Finland from 1950s to the present]

In Finland nursing education and research in universities was established in 1979. Research in nursing, however, was done in some amount even before in other disciplines and in the Institute of Nursing Research. In this article, nursing research during 1958-1995 is described, based on the articles in the Finnish Yearbook of Nursing (1958-1988), in the Journal of Nursing Science (Hoitotiede, 1989-1995) and academic licentiate and doctoral dissertations. The analysis indicates strong growth of nursing research in Finland since 1950s. The content of research is multidimensional. The nature of research is quantitative and descriptive; many of the doctoral dissertations in 1990s are qualitative. The research interest has been mainly the patient. Articles in research methods and concept analysis are rare.

Using the 'new' statistics in nursing research

This paper argues that quantitative methods are under-used in nursing research. Although this is often because the qualitative approach is the most appropriate, it may also be because nurse researchers are not fully aware of modern, sophisticated data analysis techniques and have tended to use simple statistical techniques that often make the quantitative analysis of complex data very difficult and produce simplistic and unsatisfactory answers. The paper briefly discusses probability and survival modelling techniques suitable for use in complex nursing research situations and argues that these methods may help to bridge the qualitative-quantitative gap. Although these techniques are mathematically complex, they are easily applied in practice using dedicated computer programs. The paper describes their application using one such program, GLIM 4.

An application of hierarchical linear models to longitudinal studies

Nursing researchers are increasingly interested in studying changes in patients' outcomes, such as physiologic and psychological status, across time. The most frequently used approaches, univariate repeated measures, multivariate repeated measures, and pre- and posttest differences, have restrictive assumptions and unrealistic data requirements. Therefore, a more flexible approach is needed. Hierarchical linear models (HLM) can be used to solve these problems. The advantages of HLM are (a) it describes each individual's growth trajectory and its relationship with initial status, (b) it is not restricted by unrealistic assumptions, (c) if solves the commonly observed problems of missing data, (d) it does not require fixed time intervals, and (e) it provides more precise estimation.

A snapshot of Australian nursing scholarship 1993-1994

This study investigates Australian nursing academics' publications in nursing and health journals in 1993-94. It describes the personal and professional characteristics of the authors, characteristics of the articles and interactions among these characteristics. Frequency descriptions were done to describe data and cross-tabulations were used to investigate relationships. The major findings about the authors are that few nurse-academics are publishing, that those who do publish are mainly senior academics, and that there are differences in publication rates among the states. The major findings about articles were that the majority of articles were in domestic journals, the major type of scholarship is research scholarship and that there is a shift away from teaching scholarship articles. The major focus of research scholarship is medical-surgical-nursing, with a quantitative approach, correlational design, convenience sample and no theoretical framework. Recommendations are made for further research which does not restrict scholarship to that appearing in journals and which investigates factors that constrain and facilitate scholarship.

Ten measurement commandments that often should be broken

Many of the measurement aspects of nursing research have been governed by rules regarding the minimum values of certain summary indexes (such as Cronbach's coefficient alpha and Cohen's kappa), the required numbers of subjects per item for factor analyses, and the like. In this article a case is made for violating these rules whenever the circumstances warrant such violations.

MSU Rurality Index: development and evaluation. Montana State University

The construction and validation of a residence-based index of the degree of rurality are reported. The MSU Rurality Index is a locally normal index and assigns a quantitative measure of rurality to each participant in a study. Data required to compute the index are minimal; only two variables need be measured. Statistical analysis effort required to compute the index is somewhat more intensive than usual, but this tradeoff between data collection and data analysis seems sensible. Data collection is generally more expensive than data analysis. The two required variables, county population and distance to emergency care, are optimally transformed to achieve normality and weighted to achieve validity. A measure of departure from normality is automatically obtained while constructing the index. A positive score reflects a rural residence and a negative score reflects an urban residence relative to the group under study. A score of zero reflects average rurality. Reliability and construct validity were examined using two data sets. The MSU Rurality Index has high test-retest reliability, is appropriately related to a set of ordered categories concerning place of residence, and is as or more strongly related to these categories than alternative indices computed from distance or population alone. The validity of the MSU Rurality Index does not appear to be compromised by its parsimony. Even though the MSU Rurality Index is based on only two variables, it was found to be associated with various health care variables as strongly or more strongly than an 11 variable county-based index developed in Texas.

Participatory action research for community health promotion

Community participation is an important feature of community health promotion. One form is participatory action research. This article describes the process and outcomes of participatory action research conducted by a Healthy City in rural Indiana and public health nurse faculty. The community was integrally involved in the entire process, including framing of research questions, construction and distribution of survey tools, analysis of findings, and taking action on the results. Combining local insights of the community with technical assistance from public health nursing yielded multiple benefits. The role of participatory action research is appropriate for public health nurses because it is consistent with the goals and characteristics of the profession.

Strategies for teaching research: a survey of baccalaureate programs

The purpose of this study was to survey educators in National League for Nursing-accredited baccalaureate programs regarding placement and teaching strategies for nursing research and assignments used to integrate research throughout the curriculum. The 25-item survey instrument was sent to 100 randomly selected deans and directors of schools, 67 of whom responded. Demographic and descriptive data are reported. Assignments specific for theory and clinical courses are tabulated. Although a number of variables, such as size of school, region, education of faculty, and presence of a graduate program were analyzed, no significant correlations were found.

Promoting scientific integrity in nursing research. Part I: Current approaches in doctoral programs

Schools of nursing with doctoral programs were surveyed to determine current approaches and elicit suggestions for institutional- and professional-level strategies to promote scientific integrity. Results from 38 schools are reported in a two-part series. Part 1 reports findings concerning formal and informal instruction about responsible science and the standards, norms, and guidelines being used to direct scientific inquiry. Information on misconduct and scientific integrity was typically included in required research methods, courses, and optional workshops, but the extent and scope of the instruction was variable, and a majority of respondents judged it to be marginal or inadequate. A high value was placed on informal student-mentor interaction. Where they existed, institutional guidelines were more specific than federal guidelines, but dealt primarily with procedures for handling alleged misconduct rather than for promoting responsible science. Findings suggest the need for a more proactive and consistent approach to promoting scientific integrity in doctoral programs.

1994 Oncology Nursing Society Research Priorities Survey

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

To determine oncology nursing research priorities as well as the type of research needed to address these priorities.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey design.

SETTING

Mail-out survey with return, postage-paid envelope provided.

SAMPLE

A random sample of 10% of Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) members who identified patient care as their primary functional area, the ONS leadership group (e.g., Board of Directors, all committee chairs), all doctorally prepared ONS members, and all members of the ONS Advanced Nursing Research Special interest Group (N = 2,178).

METHODS

The questionnaire was based on prior ONS Research Surveys and updated to reflect issues or topics that currently are relevant to oncology nurses.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES

Priority ranking of 93 research topics organized into seven major categories.

FINDINGS

Seven hundred eighty-nine surveys were returned, for a 36% return rate. The top 10 priorities according to the priority index were pain; prevention; quality of life; risk reduction/screening; ethical issues; neutropenia/immunosuppression; patient education; stress, coping, and adaptation; detection; and cost containment.

CONCLUSIONS

The top 10 research issues can be used to develop priorities for the direction of research in oncology nursing.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The findings provide a basis for identifying trends in nursing practice. The fact that prevention, risk reduction, and detection appear in the top 10 suggests that nurses are moving toward a definition of practice that is not limited to managing symptoms of disease. These findings also provide guidance for forming health policy in cancer care.