Assistant Professor Dr. Ali K. Al-Mesrawi (1) Research in Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Ali K. Al-Mesrawi (1)

What is Nursing Research? A systematic inquiry designed to develop knowledge about issues important to the nursing profession

Research Themes Changing lifestyle behavior for better health (starting healthy behaviors) Managing the effects of chronic illness to improve quality of life Identifying effective strategies to reduce health disparities التفاوت Harnessing تسخير advanced technologies to serve human needs Enhancing end-of-life experience for patients and families

Methods for Nursing Research Scientific Method and Quantitative Research Naturalistic Method and Qualitative Research The quantitative research methodology is based on the positivist paradigm which assume that there is an objective reality and that natural phenomena are regular and orderly. There is a reality out there that can be studied and known. This lends itself to the scientific method of study—which refers to a general set of orderly, disciplined procedures used to acquire information. Qualitative research is based on the naturalistic paradigm—the assumption that reality is not a fixed entity but is a construction of human minds and therefore ‘truth’ is a composite of multiple constructions of reality. Qualitative researchers emphasize understanding the human experience as it is lived through collection and analysis of subjective, narrative materials that take place in a natural setting. Naturalists believe that the scientific method is ‘reductionist’. That it reduces the human experience to only concepts that are under investigation, and those concepts have been previously defined by the researcher rather than emerging fro the experience of those under study.

Importance of Nursing Research Evidence-Based Nursing Practice Credibility of the Nursing Profession Accountability for Nursing Practice Documentation of Cost-Effectiveness of Nursing Care The major reason for conducting nursing research is to foster optimum care for our patients. Evidence-based practice may be defined as the use of the best clinical evidence in making patient care decisions. In the past, nursing has frequently been thought of as a vocation rather than a profession. The struggle for nurses to gain professional status has been a long and difficult one. One of the criteria for a profession is the existence of a body of knowledge that is distinct from that of other disciplines. Nursing has traditionally borrowed knowledge from the natural and social sciences, and only in recent years have nurses concentrated on establishing a unique body of knowledge that would allow nursing to be clearly defined as a distinct profession. The most valid means of developing this knowledge is through nursing research. Accountability for nursing practice—to be accountable for their practice, nurses must have sound rationale for their actions, based on knowledge that is gained through scientific research. Nurses have the responsibility of keeping their knowledge base current, and one of the best sources of current knowledge is research literature. The ability to critique research articles and determine findings that are appropriate for practice is a skill that is needed by all nurses. Now, more than ever, nurses need to document the social relevance and effectiveness of their practice, not only to the profession but to nursing care consumers, health care administrators, third-party payers and government agencies.

The Research Process: The Sum of It’s Parts

Abstract Short comprehensive synopsis or summary of a study Located at the beginning of a study Quickly focuses the reader on the main points of the study 50 to 250 words Should accurately represent the study’s methods and results

Variable A characteristic or quality that takes on different values, i.e., that varies from one person to the next Blood type Weight Length of stay in hospital

Types of Variables (cont’d) Independent variable—the presumed cause (of a dependent variable) Dependent variable—the presumed effect (of an independent variable) Example: Smoking (IV)  Lung cancer (DV) Questions: Does assertiveness training improve the effectiveness of psychiatric nurses. IV: assertiveness training DV: effectiveness Are the number of prenatal visits of pregnant women associated with labor and delivery outcomes? IV: number of prenatal visits DV: labor and delivery outcomes Variable: body temperature IV: Does infant’s body temperature upon admission to the nursery affect respiratory status? DV: What is the affect on radiant heat lamps on infant’s body temperature during short procedures?

Definitions of Concepts and Variables Conceptual definition the abstract or theoretical meaning of a concept being studied Operational definition the operations (measurements) a researcher must perform to collect the desired information Suggest operational definitions for the following terms: Pain Stress Obesity

Identification of a Research Purpose/Question Research problem An unexplained, perplexing, or troubling condition Problem statement A statement describing the research problem and indicating the need for a study Both qualitative and quantitative researchers identify a research problem with a broad topic of interest. The purpose of the research is to solve the problem or to contribute to its solution by accumulating relevant information. A problem statement articulates the problem to be addressed and indicates the need for a study.

Research Question/Hypotheses Research questions The specific questions the researcher wants to answer in addressing the research problem Hypotheses The researcher’s predictions about relationships among variables Research questions are the specific queries researchers want to answer in address the research problem. Research questions guide the types of data to be collected in a study. Hypotheses are the specific predictions regarding answers to the research questions that can be tested empirically.

Research Design and Data Quantitative Studies—Researchers identify variables of interest, develop operational definitions, then collect relevant data from subjects. The actual values of the study variables constitute data for the project Qualitative Studies—Researcher primarily collects narrative data Data are pieces of information obtained in the course of the investigation

Example of Quantitative Data

Major Methodologic Challenge Designing studies that are: Reliable and valid (quantitative studies) Trustworthy (qualitative studies)

Criteria for Evaluating Quantitative Research Reliability The accuracy & consistency of obtained information Validity The soundness of the evidence—whether findings are convincing, well-grounded For quantitative studies: Reliability refers to the accuracy and consistency of information obtained in a study. Can results be repeated? Validity refers to the quality of evidence. For example, does a nursing intervention really bring about improvements in patient outcomes, or were other factors responsible?

Questions??