Attitude, knowledge, and Experience of Research work of the Professional Nurses in Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: To study the attitude, knowledge, and experience of the professional nurses working in Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital. Obstacles to do research work and supports needed from the faculty were also investigated

Methods: The descriptive research was designed to study all professional nurses who was working in Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital during July 10 – 20, 2013. Characteristics of the subjects, their attitude, knowledge, experience, obstacles and supports relevant to conducting a research were collected by self-answering questionnaires constructed by the research group. The data was analyzed by percentage, frequency and chi-square test.

Results: Eight hundred professional nurses were enrolled in this study. Approximately 44.2% were of operational level while 36.4% were of expert level. More than 54% had been working for more than 10 years. The mean age was 37.2 years. Quality improvement of the work unit was the main objective to do research (70.6%), followed by career-path promotion (40.8%). Only Minority (31.6%) had ever had training in research methodology course. Nearly two-thirds (63.5%) felt confident to conduct research with some support from research mentors. Nearly three-fourths (73.2%) had never conducted any research. Only 14.2 % had published articles as first author. Inadequate time or too much workload was the main obstacle to do research work (74.6%). The most common support needed was assistance in statistical analysis and English literacy writing (75.4% and 74.2%, respectively). The factors that support the increase of research included sabbatical leave and grants.

Conclusion: Most professional nurses conducted a research for the requirement to improve quality of work unit or for a career-path promotion. Although less than one-half had a formal research knowledge from training, nearly two-thirds felt confident to conduct research with some support from research mentors. A small minority had experience or involved in the research.