Action research: A mechanism for active engagement of clinical nurses in a program of research

Setting national nursing research priorities in Qatar: A Delphi survey

AIM

To establish consensus on the priorities of nursing research in Qatar regarding nursing administration, nursing practice and nursing education for the years 2023-2033.

DESIGN

Classic Delphi format over three phases.

METHODS

The first phase involved a qualitative round where participants identified 10 research priorities. In phase two, the collected sentences were analysed and grouped into themes. Participants were then requested to rate these sentences based on their perceived importance. During phase three, participants received their individual responses, the consolidated group response from the second round, and were given the opportunity to agree or disagree with the group ranking. The panel of experts consisted of 32 participants who agreed to participate in all three rounds. They included a mixture of nursing academics, clinical managers and nursing directors from public sectors and nursing schools in Qatar.

RESULTS

The experts reached a consensus on the research priorities for Qatar. These prioritized topics focused on improving patient care outcomes, enhancing workforce development, strengthening nursing leadership, integrating technology to improve nursing and nursing education and promoting evidence-based practice.

CONCLUSION

This research emphasizes the importance of progress in nursing to meet healthcare demands. Findings showed the need of future research to focus on improving nursing workforce and well-being, leadership styles and technology, and evidence-based practice and technology in nursing education.

IMPACT

The impact of identifying nursing research priorities in Qatar will improve healthcare practices, fostering a culture of evidence-based care. These advancements will motivate nurses to engage more actively in research, thereby enhancing overall healthcare outcomes.

PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Not applicable.

Developing and evaluating an evidence-based practice research competency enhancement program for clinical nurses in Korea: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial for delivering high-quality healthcare and effective self-care. Enhancing clinical nurses' research competencies through structured mentorship is key to the widespread application of EBP. This study evaluated a newly developed Research Competency Enhancement Program (RCEP), aimed at bolstering EBP among experienced nurses.

METHODS

Conducted in a tertiary university hospital in Korea, this single-group study employed a pretest-post-test design and a mixed-methods approach. The RCEP involved 11 experienced clinical nurses in an 8-week intervention, featuring mentor-led workshops, interactive sessions, and resource-driven activities. Data were collected using the Evidence-Based Practice Beliefs Scale (EBPB), the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPA), and the Research Practice Ability (RPA) tool, alongside qualitative feedback. These measures assessed the program's feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness.

RESULTS

The quantitative analysis indicated significant improvements in research competency post-intervention. Mean scores on the EBPB and RPA scales increased (Z = -2.53, p = .011; Z = -2.66, p = .008). Participants described the RCEP as inspirational and challenging, creating an environment conducive to research. Facilitators included mentor support and innovative learning tools, while barriers were internet connectivity and scheduling conflicts. Suggestions for improvement included more hands-on sessions, small team collaborations, and integration with academic institutions.

CONCLUSION

The RCEP, facilitated by EBP mentors, significantly improved the research competencies and attitudes of clinical nurses towards EBP. The study underscores the importance of continual RCEP refinement, integrating structured, interactive, and collaborative elements to further empower nurses in evidence-based practice. The program shows promise in enhancing research competencies and fostering a commitment to EBP in clinical settings.

Using data from mHealth apps to inform person-centred practice: A discussion paper

BACKGROUND

mHealth applications (apps) are tools that can enhance research by efficiently collecting and storing large amounts of data. However, data collection alone does not lead to change. Innovation and practice change occur through utilisation of evidence. The volume of data collected raises questions regarding utilisation of data by nurses and midwives, and how data from mHealth apps can be used to improve person-centred practice. There is limited empirical evidence and a lack of direction from global health authorities to guide nurses and midwives in this area.

AIM

To describe strategies for nurses and midwives that could enhance the effective use of data generated by mHealth apps to inform person-centred practice. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate reflection and generate actions for data utilisation when using mHealth apps in nursing research and practice.

METHODS

This discussion paper has been informed by current evidence, the integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework, and research experience as part of doctoral study.

FINDINGS

Before engaging in data collection using mHealth apps, nurses and midwives would benefit from considering the nature of the evidence collected, available technological infrastructure, and staff skill levels. When collecting data and interpreting results, use of a team approach supported by engaged leadership and external facilitation is invaluable. This provides support to operate apps, and more importantly use the data collected to inform person-centred practice.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper addresses the limited available evidence to guide nurses and midwives when using mHealth apps to collect and use data to inform practice change. It highlights the need for appropriate technology, external facilitative support, engaged leadership, and a team approach to collect meaningful evidence using mHealth apps. Clinicians, leaders, and researchers can apply the strategies provided to enhance the use of mHealth apps and ensure translation of evidence into practice.

Japanese nurse academics' pedagogical development using collaborative action research

BACKGROUND

To meet contemporary professional standards, nurse educators must provide students with educational content that considers active learning strategies.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the process and challenges faced by nurse academics working collaboratively to implement an online problem-based learning course.

DESIGN

Collaborative action research.

SETTING

This study was conducted with nurse academics at Yamaguchi University in Japan from May 2020 to April 2022.

PARTICIPANTS

Five Japanese nurse academics and two Australian academics participated in this study.

METHODS

Nurse academics met regularly online to discuss issues and plan, act, and reflect on their experiences using Norton's (2001) five-step process. The meetings were recorded, and structured and written reflections from each participant were collected throughout the process. Data collected from the meetings and structured reflections were analysed to identify key themes.

RESULTS

In Step 1, the key stakeholders were discussed and issues were identified. Step 2 included planning a short seminar for the convenience of student participants, Step 3 involved the conduct of an online nursing ethics course (four sessions) for the students, and Step 4 included the evaluation. One year after the academics had completed their teaching, a discussion of future directions was conducted (Step 5). Through the collaborative action research process, four themes were identified: (1) creating a shared understanding, (2) adopting new paradigms for teaching and research, (3) learning and experiences while practicing, and (4) looking back and moving forward.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite some challenges experienced, the action research approach enhanced the curriculum development process, provided collegial opportunities to explore and learn together, and led to increased changes in the educational practice of academics, even beyond the collaborative action research.

The improvement in research orientation among clinical nurses in Qatar: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The main barrier to engaging nurses in research is the lack of research knowledge and skills.

AIM

To explore the influence of research workshops on the research orientation of nurses in a large referral hospital in Qatar.

DISCUSSION

This article describes a cross-sectional study involving 564 nurses working in 14 health facilities who attended research workshops in Qatar. The authors collected data using the Edmonton Research Orientation Survey (EROS) as well as questions considering support and barriers to research. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise and determine the sample characteristics and distribution of participants. The participants who attended the workshop were found to have a higher orientation towards the EROS sub-scales of evidence-based practice, valuing of research, involvement in research, being at the leading edge of the profession and support for research, compared to those who did not attend the workshop. There was no statistical difference between the groups in the research barrier sub-scale.

CONCLUSION

Despite significant improvements in their responses to the EROS research orientation sub-scales after attending the workshop, the nurses still reported many barriers to being actively engaged in research.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Healthcare organisations should assist with integrating evidence-based practice into healthcare. There is a need for research education for clinical nurses to bring evidence into clinical practice to improve the quality of patient outcomes. Increasing the research capacity of nurses will lead to their emancipation in addressing the flaws in clinical practice and motivate them to use evidence in patient care.

A systematic review on the use of action research methods in mental health nursing care

AIMS

To identify and synthesize evidence on the use of action research methods in mental health nursing care.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

DATA SOURCES

CINAHL, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched in January 2021.

REVIEW METHODS

Data were selected using the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis framework. Two reviewers independently conducted the study selection, and quality appraisal using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research, data extraction and data analysis procedures.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies, half of which used participatory action research, were included in this review. Nurses, along with other stakeholders, were an active part of the action research process. The main topics of interest addressed were categorized as improving the adoption of a person-centred approach to care and improving decision-making procedures. The use of action research helped the participants to identify the meaning they attached to the topic of interest to be improved. Moreover, this method helped to identify needs and strategies for improving care. The studies concurred that the use of action research enabled participants to gain awareness, improve attitudes and acquire knowledge. In addition, it enabled participants to gain confidence and security in the group context, as key aspects of their empowerment.

CONCLUSION

This review shows the usefulness of action research in any mental health nursing context, contributing to the improvement of care at both the individual and collective levels.

IMPACT

This paper demonstrates the use of the action research method in the field of mental health nursing. Its use has improved the clinical practice of nurses as well as that of teams in both community and hospital settings, addressing issues of the person-centred approach to care and decision-making procedures.

The therapeutic relationship at the heart of nursing care: A participatory action research in acute mental health units

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore the process of change within the clinical practice of nurses in mental health inpatient units in the context of a participatory process to improve the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship.

DESIGN

Participatory Action Research.

METHODS

Ninety-six nurses from 18 mental health units participated. Data were collected through focus groups and reflective diaries between March 2018 and January 2020. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. The COREQ guidelines were used.

RESULTS

The research process was carried out through two cycles of four stages each in which the nurses were able to identify the facilitating and limiting elements of their practice in relation to the therapeutic relationship. They then proposed two consensual improvement strategies for all the units, which they called reserved therapeutic space and postincident analysis. Finally, they implemented and evaluated the two strategies for change.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has shown that, despite the different cultural and structural realities of the participating units, it is possible to implement a collaborative process of change, provided the needs and expectations of both the participants and the organisations are similar.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The results obtained through Participatory Action Research were directly transferred to clinical practice, thus having an impact on individual nurses and patients, as well as on the collective dynamics of the teams and aspects related to the management of the units.

NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Patient or public input is not directly applicable to this study. Patients were recipients of the changes that were occurring in the nurses as part of their daily clinical practice.

How nurses and midwives engage with patient experience data to inform person-centred quality and safety improvements

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore how nurses and midwives engage with patient experience data collected via a mobile health app to inform person-centred practice improvements.

BACKGROUND

A large amount of data is collected in healthcare, yet there is limited evidence outlining how nursing and midwifery staff utilise patient experience data to inform person-centred quality and safety improvements.

METHODS

This study utilised action research, underpinned by Practice Development methodology and has been reported using the SQUIRE 2.0 checklist. Six clinical units (medical short stay, acute medical, surgical, oncology/haematology, day surgery and maternity) in a large health district in Australia engaged in three cycles of data collection using a mobile health app. The app captured patient experience data relating to the person-centred KPIs developed and tested by McCance et al. (2012). Staff used the data to develop and evaluate person-centred practice.

RESULTS

A number of improvements in scores and practice occurred through engaging with the data in a cyclical way. All six clinical units saw an improvement in four or more of the KPIs in the patient survey results from cycle one to cycle three, with two clinical units improving in all eight. On average across the six units, there was also an increase in time nurses/midwives were visible to their patients, an increase in clinical documentation reflecting the patients' needs and what was important to them, an increase in positive comments and a decrease in negative comments in patient stories.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that collecting and utilising data from the person-centred KPIs in a collaborative and cyclical way lead to enhanced patient experience and the development and implementation of person-centred quality and safety improvements.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Capturing and utilising data that are meaningful to nursing/midwifery teams in a cyclical, action-orientated approach result in person-centred practice improvements that enhance the experience of those that are receiving and delivering patient care.

Mixed methods systematic review: Factors influencing research activity among nurses in clinical practice

AIM

This study aimed to identify, evaluate and summarise current evidence in relation to the factors that influence the conducting of research by nurses in clinical practice.

DESIGN

This study used mixed methods systematic review.

DATA SOURCES

CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus and ASSIA, with dates limited from 2015 to 2020, were used to conduct a systematic search of the literature.

REVIEW METHODS

The Joanna Briggs Institute approach was followed, with results reported according to the Preferred Reporting System for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The associated checklist for systematic reviews was also used. A standardised data extraction tool was then used, with quality appraisal guided by the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, with a subsequent convergent qualitative synthesis.

RESULTS

Sixteen papers were identified for inclusion, nine quantitative, six qualitative and one mixed methods. Four themes were identified: research competence and culture, proactive research mentorship, research resources and making a difference. These were critically discussed in relation to barriers and enablers to the conduct of research by nurses in clinical practice. Commonly cited barriers included a lack of research knowledge, confidence and access to resources, particularly protected time, while enablers such as educational partnerships, identifying research-motivated clinical nurses and access to research role models were also apparent in the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Globally, nurses in clinical practice are clearly motivated to engage in the research process despite apparent barriers that have a significant impact on productivity. Nevertheless, there are also enablers to building research capacity apparent that offer methodological and structural approaches to empower this group to conduct research.

Maintaining momentum in action research

BACKGROUND

Action research (AR) provides a robust platform for collaboration to develop and evaluate nursing practice. It results in several outcomes, including changes in evidence-based practice, the development of research capacity, and the evaluation and sustainability of interventions, all of which can be seen as benefits compared to other approaches. However, the methodology involves cycles of action, reflection, theory and practice, so it can be challenging to maintain momentum when engaging with teams over long periods of time.

AIM

To offer strategies for maintaining momentum when using AR in nursing research.

DISCUSSION

Three strategies for maintaining momentum when undertaking AR are covered. Theory, literature and experience of using AR in which the strategies of 'connecting as people', 'working with the context' and 'understanding the influence of the leadership team' made a considerable difference in maintaining momentum and are drawn on.

CONCLUSION

Maintaining momentum in studies that use AR can be arduous, but critical reflection enables researchers to identify and overcome the challenges that arise. Researchers undertaking AR can apply the three strategies provided or other approaches to maintain momentum during all phases of a study.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Maintaining momentum in AR studies is more successful when researchers connect with those with whom they are undertaking research. It is advantageous for nurse researchers to reflect on and understand the influence of the leadership team and context rather than try to adapt them to the study's or their own needs.