Cardiac Surgery Healthcare Professionals’ Engagement in Research at the Bedside: Challenges and Opportunities

The increased emphasis on evidence-based practice in healthcare has led to a move of hospital-based nurse education into higher education institutions. This has led to a need for a significant shift in focus on educational training from imparting research contents to providing opportunities to experience the research process.

Research was introduced in the nursing curriculum to increase awareness of research and capacity building to promote research output. Such strong emphasis on teaching and developing research in nursing programs was at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and is evident in many parts of the world. Within clinical practice, nurses' input in generating research evidence has also been encouraged by the introduction of advanced nurse practitioner roles. Despite these efforts to increase opportunities for research participation, there has been a general lack of research to guide practice. Complex organizational issues and lack of funding, protected time for research, and educational supports have been identified as specific challenges to the engagement in research at the bedside.

Strategies to promote engagement in research include mentorship; collaboration between researchers, academics, and clinicians; role modelling, facilitation, and support; increased awareness of supports for research engagement; cultivating a positive attitude toward research in the clinical environment; and securing time for clinicians to undertake research.

Reference

1. Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2008). Theory, research, and practice in health behavior and health education.