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Kengia JT, Kalolo A, Barash D, Chwa C, Hayirli TC, Kapologwe NA, Kinyaga A, Meara JG, Staffa SJ, Zanial N, Alidina S. Research capacity, motivators and barriers to conducting research among healthcare providers in Tanzania's public health system: a mixed methods study. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2023; 21:73. [PMID: 37670321 PMCID: PMC10478476 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-023-00858-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Building health research capacity in low- and middle-income countries is essential to achieving universal access to safe, high-quality healthcare. It can enable healthcare workers to conduct locally relevant research and apply findings to strengthen their health delivery systems. However, lack of funding, experience, know-how, and weak research infrastructures hinders their ability. Understanding research capacity, engagement, and contextual factors that either promote or obstruct research efforts by healthcare workers can inform national strategies aimed at building research capacity. METHODS We used a convergent mixed-methods study design to understand research capacity and research engagement of healthcare workers in Tanzania's public health system, including the barriers, motivators, and facilitators to conducting research. Our sample included 462 randomly selected healthcare workers from 45 facilities. We conducted surveys and interviews to capture data in five categories: (1) healthcare workers research capacity; (2) research engagement; (3) barriers, motivators, and facilitators; (4) interest in conducting research; and (5) institutional research capacity. We assessed quantitative and qualitative data using frequency and thematic analysis, respectively; we merged the data to identify recurring and unifying concepts. RESULTS Respondents reported low experience and confidence in quantitative (34% and 28.7%, respectively) and qualitative research methods (34.5% and 19.6%, respectively). Less than half (44%) of healthcare workers engaged in research. Engagement in research was positively associated with: working at a District Hospital or above (p = 0.006), having a university degree or more (p = 0.007), and previous research experience (p = 0.001); it was negatively associated with female sex (p = 0.033). Barriers to conducting research included lack of research funding, time, skills, opportunities to practice, and research infrastructure. Motivators and facilitators included a desire to address health problems, professional development, and local and international collaborations. Almost all healthcare workers (92%) indicated interest in building their research capacity. CONCLUSION Individual and institutional research capacity and engagement among healthcare workers in Tanzania is low, despite high interest for capacity building. We propose a fourfold pathway for building research capacity in Tanzania through (1) high-quality research training and mentorship; (2) strengthening research infrastructure, funding, and coordination; (3) implementing policies and strategies that stimulate engagement; and (4) strengthening local and international collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T Kengia
- Department of Health, Nutrition Services and Social Welfare, The President's Office Regional Administration and Local Government, P.O Box 1923, Dodoma, Tanzania.
| | - Albino Kalolo
- Center for Reforms, Innovation, Health Policies and Implementation Research, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Department of Public Health, St Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, Ifakara, Tanzania
| | | | - Cindy Chwa
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tuna Cem Hayirli
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ntuli A Kapologwe
- Department of Health, Nutrition Services and Social Welfare, The President's Office Regional Administration and Local Government, P.O Box 1923, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Ally Kinyaga
- Center for Reforms, Innovation, Health Policies and Implementation Research, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - John G Meara
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Steven J Staffa
- Department of Anesthesiology and Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Noor Zanial
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shehnaz Alidina
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Castro-Sánchez E, Russell AM, Dolman L, Wells M. What place does nurse-led research have in the COVID-19 pandemic? Int Nurs Rev 2021; 68:214-218. [PMID: 33565619 PMCID: PMC8013712 DOI: 10.1111/inr.12660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM Reflect upon the visibility of nursing-led research during the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND The emerging SARS-CoV-2 infection has galvanized collaborative and multidisciplinary efforts in clinical and research practice worldwide. The scarce evidence-base to manage patients with COVID-19 has included limited nurse-led research. INTRODUCTION Clinical research nurses have greatly contributed to the delivery of COVID-19 research, yet the number of COVID-19 nursing-led research papers appears to be limited, with even fewer nurse-led research projects funded. METHODS Authors' views and PubMed search on 'COVID-19 and nursing'. FINDINGS There is a dearth of nursing-led research. Most papers describe the nursing contribution to COVID-19 care, changes in nursing working arrangements and emotional burden. There are opportunities to explore the consequences to vulnerable population groups of public health measures implemented to stop the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic. DISCUSSION Workforce gaps, limited integration in research structures and clinical redeployment may have hampered nurse-led research. COVID-19 may exacerbate staffing deficits by disrupting the education pipeline, obstructing the transition from clinical to academic practice, particularly in areas where clinical academic roles are yet to emerge. CONCLUSION The absence of nurse-led research in COVID-19 can be explained by chronic, underlying factors and the features of the pandemic response. Emerging models of care, effective staffing and inequalities related to COVID-19 appear obvious research areas. Nursing leadership needs to strengthen its political voice and lobbying skills to secure nurse-led research funding. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY Embracing international nursing research, strengthening collaborations and lobbying policymakers for investment in nurse-sensitive research would enhance the response to COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Castro-Sánchez
- School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, UK.,NIHR Senior Nurse Research Leader, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - A M Russell
- Senior Lecturer, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter South Cloisters, St Luke's Campus, Exeter, UK
| | - L Dolman
- NIHR Senior Nurse Research Leader, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - M Wells
- NIHR Senior Nurse Research Leader, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.,Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Munday J, Higgins N, Mathew S, Dalgleish L, Batterbury AS, Burgess L, Campbell J, Delaney LJ, Griffin BR, Hughes JA, Ingleman J, Keogh S, Coyer F. Nurse-Led Randomized Controlled Trials in the Perioperative Setting: A Scoping Review. J Multidiscip Healthc 2020; 13:647-660. [PMID: 32821111 PMCID: PMC7419608 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s255785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Nurses provide care at each phase of the complex, perioperative pathway and are well placed to identify areas of care requiring investigation in randomized controlled trials. Yet, currently, the scope of nurse-led randomized controlled trials conducted within the perioperative setting are unknown. This scoping review aims to identify areas of perioperative care in which nurse-led randomized controlled trials have been conducted, to identify issues impacting upon the quality of these trials and identify gaps for future investigation. METHODS This scoping review was conducted in reference to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, with a date range of 2014-19. Sources of unpublished literature included Open Grey, and ProQuest Dissertation and Theses, Clinical Trials.gov and the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. After title and abstract checking, full-text retrieval and data extraction, studies were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists for randomized controlled trials. Data were synthesized according to the main objectives. Key information was tabulated. RESULTS From the 86 included studies, key areas where nurses have led randomized controlled trials include patient or caregiver anxiety; postoperative pain relief; surgical site infection prevention: patient and caregiver knowledge; perioperative hypothermia prevention; postoperative nausea and vomiting; in addition to other diverse outcomes. Issues impacting upon quality (including poorly reported randomization), and gaps for future investigation (including a focus on vulnerable populations), are evident. CONCLUSION Nurse-led randomized controlled trials in the perioperative setting have focused on key areas of perioperative care. Yet, opportunities exist for nurses to lead experimental research in other perioperative priority areas and within different populations that have been neglected, such as in the population of older adults undergoing surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judy Munday
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Health and Nursing Science, University of Agder, Grimstad, 4879, Norway
- Mater Research Institute-UQ, South Brisbane, QLD4101, Australia
| | - Niall Higgins
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD4029, Australia
| | - Saira Mathew
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lizanne Dalgleish
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD4029, Australia
| | - Anthony S Batterbury
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD4029, Australia
| | - Luke Burgess
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Mater Research Institute-UQ, South Brisbane, QLD4101, Australia
| | - Jill Campbell
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD4029, Australia
| | - Lori J Delaney
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Colleges of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Acton, ACT2601, Australia
| | - Bronwyn R Griffin
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - James A Hughes
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD4029, Australia
| | - Jessica Ingleman
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Samantha Keogh
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD4029, Australia
- Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Fiona Coyer
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD4029, Australia
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