Nursing research at German university hospitals: A descriptive, cross-sectional study on the current status of nursing research activities and challenges for ethical approval.

Abstract

Introduction: Nursing research is an integral part of nursing science and essential for evidence-based nursing practice. Research conducted by nursing scientists employed at university hospitals is shaped by the specific prevailing conditions. It is largely unclear to what extent these nursing scientists are engaged in research and which difficulties they have to face. The purpose of the study was to gain insight into nursing scientists' research activities in German university hospitals and to assess the challenges they encounter in gaining ethical approval from institutional review boards.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Data was collected among nursing scientists at university hospitals in Germany with an online survey using closed and open questions.

Results: The response rate was 68 %. In total, the answers of n = 31 nursing researchers could be analysed. The majority of participants (58.1 %) stated that they worked as project leaders on several research projects and estimated the time they spent on research at up to 25 % of their working time. The most frequently used research methodology was qualitative research (45.2 %) with employees (54.8 %) and patients (22.6 %) as study participants. Prior to performing research projects, most of the respondents submitted their study protocols to the local institutional review board (35.5 %). Half of the nursing researchers (48.4 %) had been faced with challenges in this process which were mostly due to board members being unfamiliar with qualitative designs and nursing research.

Discussion: Nursing scientists employed at German university hospitals carry out a considerable number of research projects. However, time constraints and lack of funding in particular pose a challenge not only for productivity in the clinical setting, but also for the process of ethical clearance. The requirements of applying for ethical clearance at the local research ethics committees, the costs and the time required for gaining approval are very heterogeneous and thus lead to uncertainty and complicated processes.

Conclusion: A good cooperative relationship, the adaptation of structural requirements with regard to the assessment of nursing research projects in favour of increased transparency and, finally, better integration of nursing scientists in local research ethics committees should be established in order to better support nursing research activities.