Engaging Clinical Nurses in Research: Nurses' Experiences Delivering a Communication Intervention in a Behavioral Oncology Clinical Trial

Consequences of the hospital nursing research culture: Perspective of staff nurses

Objective

Research plays a critical role in molding nursing as a profession. Healthcare organizations are challenged to build an organizational culture that cultivates the development of nursing research. Creating a culture of nursing research is constantly branded a vital component in advancing nursing science. Therefore, this study described nurses' perceptions about their hospital's nursing research culture.

Methods

Semi-structured personal interviews were used to collect data. Seventeen staff nurses were selected to participate in the study by purposive sampling method from December 2022 to April 2023 in the eastern Philippines. The researchers used Braun and Clarke's thematic approach to analyze the qualitative data.

Results

The analysis revealed three central themes and seven subthemes: influencing behavior and performance of the employee (help in research information and learning, flexibility and adaptability, collaboration and communication among employees), influencing staff nurses' research participation (leadership strategies, training and professional development), and affecting hospitals to adapt to change (organizational performance and success, employee engagement and job satisfaction).

Conclusions

The findings support the benefits of a positive nursing research culture in hospitals due to its critical role in shaping nurses' behavior and performance, participation in nursing research, and hospital adaptation to changes. Collectively, these themes contribute to a deeper understanding of the multifaceted impact that a culture of nursing research can have on various levels of the healthcare system.

Stepping into nursing research: an introduction for gastroenterology and hepatology nurses

In this second part of an introduction to research for gastroenterology and hepatology nurses, we aim to build on the first article that introduced the significance and structure of the National Institute for Health and Care Research clinical research landscape in the UK and the importance of nurse engagement. This article introduces possible career pathways available in the profession and specialty. Practical information on how to start research is provided, including an overview of the education, training and support required for a career in research delivery and academic research. Some of the potential barriers to nursing research careers are highlighted, and solutions to navigate a successful career in nursing research are proposed.

Nurse experiences of partnership nursing when caring for children with long-term conditions and their families: A qualitative systematic review

AIM

To explore the experiences of partnership nursing among nurses when caring for children and young people with long-term conditions, and their families.

BACKGROUND

Partnership nursing is promoted as a positive model of care among paediatric nurses, where shared roles and decision-making, parental participation, mutual trust and respect, communication and negotiation are valued to create positive care experiences and enhance patient outcomes. Little is known about how nurses use partnership with both the patient and the parents in this triad to deliver partnership nursing.

DESIGN

A qualitative systematic review followed Joanna Briggs Institute meta-aggregation approach and has been reported according to PRISMA guidelines.

METHODS

A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in seven electronic databases. Studies were assessed according to a pre-determined inclusion criteria. Qualitative findings with illustrative participant quotes were extracted from included studies and grouped into categories to inform overall synthesised findings. Methodological quality assessment was conducted.

FINDINGS

A total of 5837 publications were screened, and 41 qualitative studies were included. Three overarching synthesised findings were identified: (1) Using education to promote feelings of safety and support, (2) Partnering to develop a strong therapeutic relationship and (3) Optimising communication underpinned by shared decision-making principles to deliver individualised care.

CONCLUSION

Nurses demonstrated successful partnership in their practice, but focused on developing dyadic nurse-parent and dyadic nurse-child partnerships. Future practice development that creates a three-way triadic partnership may aid therapeutic relationships and shared decision-making.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Clinicians can reflect on how dyadic partnerships (focusing on the child or the parent) may exclude opportunities for coherent care. Further exploration in practice, policy and research as to how nurses determine child competency and child and parent level of engagement in triadic partnership may improve the potential of meaningful shared decision-making.

Lessons Learned by Novice Nursing Investigators When Developing and Implementing a Research Protocol

Introduction

This lessons learned paper provides recommendations for novice investigators to consider when writing a research protocol; specifically when it involves clinical staff with varying levels of research experience, multiple departments, and is conducted at a non-academic medical center. It further explores each specific lesson with generalizability to help future novice investigators successfully develop and implement their own research study.

Methods

There were several lessons learned during the development and implementation of the research teams’ original study. These lessons include: (1) Conduct feasibility assessments; (2) Assess external factors; (3) Partner with stakeholder(s); (4) Develop tools that promote transparency; (5) Coordinate with Information Technology personnel; and (6) Engage and educate stakeholders.

Conclusion

The aim of this study was to determine if unrestricted oral intake of low fat, low residue foods during labor impacts maternal and neonatal outcomes, with the goal of contributing an adequately powered study to the current literature. Due to the challenges experienced in executing this study, the findings were not able to be generalized. However, the challenges encountered are not specific to the original focus of the researchers’ study. Each of the lessons are generalizable and can be applied to nursing research. As nurses begin to develop clinical research protocols, utilizing the lessons learned in this paper may help ensure successful implementation and completion of their research.

Analysis of Paediatric Clinical Trial Characteristics and Activity Over 23 Years-Impact of the European Paediatric Regulation on a Single French Clinical Research Center

As unlicensed or off-label drugs are frequently prescribed in children, the European Pediatric Regulation came into force in 2007 to improve the safe use of medicinal products in the pediatric population. This present report analyzes the pediatric research trials over 23 years in a clinical research center dedicated to children and the impact of regulation. The database of trial characteristics from 1998 to 2020 was analyzed. We also searched for differences between two periods (1998-2006 and 2007-2020) and between institutional and industrial sponsors during the whole period (1998-2020). A total of 379 pediatric trials were initiated at our center, corresponding to inclusion of 7955 subjects and 19448 on-site patient visits. The trials were predominantly drug evaluation trials (n = 278, 73%), sponsored by industries (n = 216, 57%) or government/non-profit institutions (n = 163, 43%). All age groups and most subspecialties were concerned. We noted an important and regular increase in the number of trials conducted over the years, with an increased number of multinational, industrially sponsored trials. Based on the data presented, areas of improvement are discussed: (1) following ethical and regulatory approval depending on the sponsor, the mean time needed for administrative and financial agreement, validation of trial procedures allowing trial initiation at the level of the center was 6.3 and 6.5 months (periods 1 and 2, respectively) and should be reduced, (2) availability of expert research teams remain insufficient, time dedicated to research attributed to physicians should be organized and recognition of research nurses is required. The positive impact of the European Pediatric Regulation highlights the need to increase the availability of trained research teams, organized within identified multicenter international pediatric research networks.

Randomized Clinical Trial of a Self-care and Communication Intervention for Parents of Adolescent/Young Adults Undergoing High-Risk Cancer Treatment: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group

BACKGROUND

Parents of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer offer primary support to their children and often experience their own high levels of distress, affecting parent-AYA communication and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To reduce parent distress and improve communication during high-risk cancer treatment, we examined efficacy of a self-care and communication intervention for parents and indirect benefit for AYAs receiving a therapeutic music video (TMV) intervention.

METHODS

In this study, we conducted a multisite, randomized controlled trial with AYAs and parents enrolled as dyads (n = 110). Parents were randomized to intervention or low-dose control; all AYAs received TMV. Data collection occurred at baseline, 2 weeks post intervention (T2), and 90 days post intervention (T3).

RESULTS

There were no significant between-group differences on primary outcomes for parents or AYAs. We did find significant differences favoring the parent intervention group on parenting confidence at T2 and marginally better outcomes for family adaptability/cohesion at T3. Both groups exhibited significant within-group improvement for parent distress (state anxiety, T3; perceived stress, T2 and T3; mood, T3), state anxiety (T2) intervention only, and family strengths control group only. Qualitative data demonstrate the parent intervention raised self-awareness and parent confidence in the short term.

CONCLUSION

Parents found their intervention helpful. Absence of significant results may be due to short intervention duration, need for tailored content, underpowered sample, and potential indirect parent benefit from AYA participation in TMV. The parent intervention did not provide an indirect benefit for AYAs.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Parents identified their own need for communication and support from nurses. Nurses can optimize AYA care by attending to parent needs through supportive listening and encouraging self-care.

Engaging Bedside Nurse in Research and Quality Improvement

Nurses are expected to participate in research and scholarly inquiry; despite ongoing attempts, the practice-research gap continues to be fraught with significant barriers. System strategies have not addressed concerns at the individual nurse level. Given the implications on quality and safety, focusing on identification of individual nurse strategies should be an important focus of attention for nursing leaders and researchers. This article seeks to describe barriers, potential solutions, and implications for nurse leaders.