Introduction

1. Introduction Dr. Belal Hijji, RN, PhD 26.08.2010

2. Learning Objectives At the end of this lecture, students will be able to: Define nursing research Discuss the relevance of research to nursing practice Recognise what research awareness is Recognise how to carry out a literature search

3. What is Research? “Research is a means of understanding, assessing and evaluating what we do as nurses” (1). This definition sheds light on the purpose and usefulness of research. Research is, thus, important as it increases knowledge and encourages critical thinking about practice. “Research is a systematic way of asking questions, a systematic method of enquiry” (2).

4. The Relevance of Research to Nursing Practice Research is central to good nursing practice The United Kingdom Briggs Report (5) states that “Nursing should become a research based profession …. A sense of the need for research should become part of the mental equipment of every practising nurse and midwife”. This extract advocates that nursing practice should be built or research-based knowledge and that nurses should support researchers and make use of relevant findings. Good nursing practice depends on multiple factors such as the use of research evidence, clinical skills, communication skills, individual needs and circumstances of the client, education, and awareness of the sources available for understanding the environment of practice. Knowledge gained from whatever source is both limited and provisional; it may change over time. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics identified any nonprone position (side or supine) as being optimum for reducing SIDS risk. Subsequent studies from England and New Zealand have shown that side sleeping has slightly a higher risk than the supine position

5. Nurses must not blindly accept research findings, just in the same way against unthinkingly following the instructions of a senior nurse or doing things in accordance with traditions. Uncritical acceptance of research findings could be dangerous.

6. What is Research Awareness? Research awareness is concerned with the knowledge nurses need to understand research issues. It is not concerned with educating nurses to become competent researchers. The UK Royal College of Nursing states, “Research- mindedness implies a critical, questioning approach to one’s own work, the desire and ability to assess its value to the situation and apply it as appropriate. It also implies a recognition of the importance of research to the profession and to patient care, and a willingness to support researchers’ work. Hockey (4) emphasises the point that nurses should ask questions and read research articles and texts. Further, nurses should assess research findings in terms of usefulness, relevance, and potential for implementation. Research studies vary in quality. Nurses should be able to identify flaws that undermine the claims that researchers make for their findings. The research paper in your hand illustrates this point.

7. Carrying Out A Literature Search A literature search is carried out to find out what was written about a topic of interest. To carry out a literature search, you should: Identify a topic relevant to your clinical practice. Try to think of different terms that might define your topic of interest, such as “pressure area care”, “pressure sores”, or “pressure ulcers”. Identify related terms that might be relevant, such as “infection control”, “dressings” and “wound care”. Identify a suitable library. This could be a university, college, hospital, or a national library. Librarians can help. Find indexes, abstract journals and other works of reference. Indexes are works of reference that allow you to search in a subject index for details of material relevant to your topic. You can use your research terms (e.g. “pressure sore” and/ or “wound care”) to do this.

8. Obtain selected articles, books and reports. Abstracts will help you to identify which articles, books and reports are most relevant and worth obtaining. The documents obtained may provide further references that can be followed up. An example of an abstract is provided next slide. • Keep a record of each document. Build up your own index of relevant documents. Details of each document should be written on one side of a card and filed alphabetically (by author’s name) in a box or a folder. The details could also be kept in a computer database. A reference for each document needs to be written. • For a journal article, the name(s) and initial(s) of the author or authors; year of publication; the title (and any subtitle) of the article; the name, the volume and part numbers of the journal in which it was published; and the inclusive page numbers. For example: Hijji, B. (2003) Trained nurses’ knowledge and practice of oral care on three wards in acute care hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Online Brazilian Journal of Nursing. 2(3)[Online]. Available at: www.uff.br/nepae/objn203hijji.htm

9. AbstractTRAINED NURSES’ KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF ORAL CARE ONTHREE WARDS IN ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL IN ABU DHABI, UAE Background. Mouth care is an essential nursing procedure that nurses are expected to have good knowledge of. Poor knowledge may compromise the quality of patient care and result in unsafe practice. Documentation of nurses’ current knowledge and practice is crucial if improvement efforts are to proceed. Aims. To investigate nurses’ reported knowledge and practice of oral care, to identify the relationship between nurses’ knowledge and practice and their demographics, and to identify nurses' perceived barriers to good practice. Methods. Cross-sectional descriptive survey. 58 nurses on three wards represented the target population. The questionnaire generated information about personal data, education and level of knowledge and practice of mouth care. Results. 46 nurses (79%) completed the questionnaire. Questionnaire analysis revealed knowledge deficits about several important aspects of oral care and inadequate practice. However, no statistically significant differences were detected among groups. Lack of materials, lack of time, and uncooperative patients were perceived barriers to good practice. Conclusion. It is now time for action. Paste and brush should be regularly provided. Hydrogen Peroxide 3% to be withdrawn. Nurses’ knowledge to be improved. Individual results to be disseminated to each ward.

10. For a book, write the name(s) and initial(s) of the author or authors; the year of publication; the title (and any subtitle) of the book; (for any book which is a second or subsequent edition) the number of the edition; the place of publication; and the name of the publisher. For example: Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundation of Thought and Action. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersy: Prentice-Hall.