Facilitation of Child Health Research in Hospital Settings: the Views of Nurses

Aims and objectivesTo explore the views of nurses towards child health research and to identify factors influencing their willingness to facilitate it in practice.BackgroundChild health research in clinical practice is increasing throughout the UK. Nurses and midwives facilitate access to patients, enact research study protocols and have a critical role in parental decisions to enrol children into research studies. Little is known about their perception of this process.DesignThis study was a descriptive study design.MethodsA newly designed questionnaire was completed in 2013 by 105 nurses in three neonatal and two children's units in two discrete acute hospital sites.ResultsOverwhelming support for clinical research was reported. Participants were motivated to facilitate research in order to improve patient care and contribute to the evidence base, but discouraged by external organisational factors and ethical concerns. Training, education and a dedicated team to support research were considered important. Misconceptions regarding consent and the allocation of treatment were reported. Participants raised particular concerns about trials of investigational medicinal product.ConclusionNegative views of nurses towards research, combined with a lack of knowledge of research processes, governance and ethics, have the potential to threaten the success of clinical research studies.Relevance to clinical practiceFocus on three main areas: staff education, improved communication and the demonstration of managerial commitment to clinical research.