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Research

• Support for nursing research
• Current nursing research at the RCH
• Resources

Support for nursing research at the RCH

The Nursing Research (RiCHES) Committee provides a forum for nurses seeking support for research, be that as part of a higher degree, or a personal or group initiated proposal. The RiCHES Committee sits as part of the Nursing Clinical Governance Structure. Dates for 2009 committee meetings are currently being finalised. For more information regarding the committee or discuss ways in which you might be involved please contact Sally Hanson or Bronwyn Carter.

Current nursing research at the RCH

Investigating the impact of a strategic approach to practice development on workplace effectiveness: utilizing a PRAXIS evaluation framework.
Hardy, S., Burke, S., Hanson, S., & Hennessy, M.

Identification of parental stressors in the neonatal intensive care environment
Johnston, L, Harrison, D.

Improving safety and minimising risk: parent, carer and service provider perspectives of sociocultural influences for medication use in young children.
Trajanovska, M, Manias, E, Cranswick, N, Johnston, L.

Childhood unintentional poisoning ranks second to falls as an injury cause of hospitalisation in the 0-4 years age group. The aims of this study are to explore the sociocultural influences on medication use by parents and carers of young children and develop best practice guidelines for provision of medication information by health care providers. A multimedia education program for health care providers and consumers will be integrated into existing health services. Results will aid in determining children at risk of medication mismanagement, and assist providers to implement a rigorous and sustainable approach to the provision of care to young children.

Infant Wellbeing Beyond the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Evans, C, Harrison, D, Johnston, L.

In recent years the World Health Organisation (WHO) has developed recommendations designed to improve breastfeeding rates for both healthy full-term infants and those babies requiring hospital care for prematurity and/or other health-related problems.  Rates of breastfeeding in normal full-term infants have been reported to reach near optimal levels post partum, but decrease steadily within the first few months of life.  For babies who have required a period of hospitalisation, breastfeeding rates decline even more quickly.  Maternal support, confidence, level of education, recommencement of employment and an infant's health have all been found to impact upon feeding practices and duration of breastfeeding. 

If you are currently engaged in a nursing research project and would be happy to share/promote your work please contact Sally Hanson

Selected Resources

The list below is a collection of interesting papers, and useful sites and resources which will assist both current and future researchers in reading, understanding, utilising and conducting research.

• Straus, S E; Sackett, D L. 1998. "Getting research findings into practice: Using
  research findings in clinical practice". British Medical Journal, 317(7154), 1 August pp 339-342. This is a full text paper available via the library home page.
• Evidence Based Nursing is a full text journal available through the Royal Children's Hospital library home page.
• So much research evidence, so little dissemination and uptake: mixing the useful with the pleasing discusses many issues around research dissemination and utilisation.
• Kitson, A. L. (2001). Approaches used to implement research findings into nursing practice: report of a study tour to Australia and New Zealand. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 7(6), 392-405. This journal is also available as a full text journal through the library home page.
• Centre for Health Evidence Users' Guides to Evidence-Based Practice
  These papers guide the reader in how to read the literature, how to use treatment recommendations, how to integrate research evidence with the care of the individual patient, how to use guidelines and recommendations about screening, and how to decide on the applicability of clinical trial results to your patient.

There are many other guides available to help you critically review or appraise research articles you read. The following lists a sample of such guides:

• Beanland, C., Schneider, Z., LoBiondo-Wood, G & Haber, J. 1999. Nursing research: Methods, critical appraisal and utilisation.(pp. 449-51) Sydney: Mosby.
• Crombie, I.K. 1998 The pocket guide to critical appraisal. (pp. 23-29) London: British Medical Journal Publishing Group.
• Sheffield Evidence Appraisals (ShEAFS) are the product of monthly critical appraisal sessions attended by members of Sheffield health organisations. An article around an identified topic of local importance is appraised using a critical appraisal checklist.
• Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) is part of the Public Health Resource Unit, through the National Health Scheme, UK. A variety of critical appraisal tools for various types of research are available for use though the Learning Resources page. CASP Appraisal Tools have been developed to appraise systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials, qualitative research, economic studies, case-control studies and cohort studies.