Nursing Students Inclination towards Research:

Mixed Method Study to Assess the Attitude and Perceived Challenges

 

Blessy Susan Biji1, Penpa Tsamchoe2, Andrea Santineer3

1Assistant Professor, St. John’s college of Nursing, Bangalore.

2.3PcBsc Nursing student SJCON.

*Corresponding Author Email:

 

ABSTRACT:

Research has become an intellectual equipment for the human beings to change their lifestyles according to needs and necessities of the society. Nursing education and practice places emphasis upon the use of evidence from research in order to rationalize nursing intervention (1). So the aims of the study were 1. To assess the attitude of undergraduate nursing students towards research. 2. To assess the perceived challenges of undergraduate nursing students towards research. A mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) approach was adopted for the present study, to assess the attitude and perceived challenges of undergraduate nursing students. Attitude was assessed by using Papanastasiou R-ATR scale that consists of 13 different items towards research (quantitative arm) and focus group discussions were conducted for assessing the perceived challenges of nursing students towards research (qualitative arm). The study was conducted on 122 undergraduate nursing students of two different nursing colleges in Bangalore. Samples were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. The Focus group discussion was conducted in 2 sessions, in each session 12 subjects were included, the discussion lasted for 45 to 60 minutes. The data was collected until data saturation was attained. The verbatim were audio recorded and data was then transcribed into themes and subthemes. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis of the quantitative arm. The verbatims were transcribed into themes and subthemes.

 

KEYWORDS: Research anxiety, Attitudes, Research methods, Research usefulness.

 

 


INTRODUCTION:

Nursing is the largest, the most diverse, and one of the most respected Health care professions. Over a period of time nursing has been continuous growth and expansion of vast amount of knowledge through research. Nursing, as a scientific discipline requires its knowledge to be driven by the findings of research. The is to answer questions or solve problems. The specific purpose of nursing research includes identification, descriptions, exploration, explanation, prediction and controls of facts2.

 

The scope of nursing research is to strengthen the body of knowledge in nursing practice, education and administration. Research is now part of nurse’s professional role and responsibility that has been intertwined with concepts of efficiency, effectiveness and quality improvement in health care. According to World Health Organization [WHO], India has 1.7 nurses per 1000 population4. Indian Nursing Council [INC] is stating that in the year 2022, 33.41 lakhs were the number of registered nurses in India. In Karnataka, it consists of 2.31lakhs.5

 

Nursing research is a process in which the researcher scientifically collects the data to be used in a clinical, administrative or instructional area in order to find solution to nursing problem, evaluating nursing practice, procedure, policies or curriculum, to assess the needs of the patients, staff or students and/or make decision or to change or continue various nursing processes which intern advances the scientific knowledge in nursing fields6. Student’s attitudes are linked with their involvement in research as future nurses.9 Another study found out that even though students were concerned about the difficulty of conducting research areas, they expressed positive attitudes toward research in general and willingness to conduct research in practice.1 When students clearly see how research applies to their professional practice or daily lives, they will become more aware about its usefulness, and hence, develop more positive attitudes towards it.7 The investigators during the interaction with students have observed that some of the students are less motivated to pursue research in their further study.

 

Thus it provoked the investigator to find the attitude of the undergraduate nursing students towards research and further understand the challenges students encountered during the study which will further help the nursing educators to understand the barriers of effective learning and can formulate strategies for effective teaching.

 

METHODOLOGY:

RESEARCH DESIGN:

A Mixed Methodology with cross sectional design was being used. The qualitative aspect is a phenomenological study where perceived challenges of students were assessed by focused group discussion and the quantitative arm assessed the attitude of students by using R-ATR Scale.

 

SAMPLE:

In this study, 122 undergraduates nursing students were recruited.

 

SETTINGS:

The study was conducted in St. John College of Nursing and St. Theresa College of Nursing.

 

POPULATION:

In this study the population refers to 3rd year basic BSC nursing students studying in St. John’s and St. Theresa’s College of Nursing.

 

TOOLS:

A tool for data collection consisted of 3 sections-

SECTION A – Proforma to collect the base line variables.

 

SECTION B – Attitude rating scale constructed by Elena Papanastasiou called Revised Attitudes towards research scale (R-ATR).

 

 

SECTION C – Focused group discussion with a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire to explore the challenges of nursing students towards research.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE TOOLS:

SECTION A: PROFOMA TO COLLECT THE BASELINE VARIABLES:

The baseline variables included that of the undergraduate nursing students were age, name of the college, college attached to parent hospital and head of the family with their occupation.

 

SECTION B: REVISED - ATTITUDE TOWARD RESEARCH RATING SCALE:

There were 13 statements which was score as strongly agreed, agreed, more of less agreed, undecided, more or less disagreed, disagreed and strongly disagreed to assess the attitude toward research. Each statement has 7 options and was scored as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, respectively.

 

METHODS:

Formal administrative permission was obtained from the consent authority. The samples were selected based on inclusion criteria. Subject information sheet was given and informed consent was obtained.

 

Baseline data was elicited using proforma.

Quantitative: Revised attitude towards research (R-ATR) Scale tool was used to obtain the attitude of undergraduate nursing students towards research. The time taken to obtain the attitude of the undergraduate nursing students were 10- 15 minutes.

 

Qualitative: Focused group discussion, consisting of 12 students were conducted for a period of 30-45 minutes until the data saturation was reached. Audio recording was done and various themes and subthemes were extracted.

 

Data was organized in an excel worksheet for tabulation and statistical analysis. The data analysis of quantitative arm was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive analysis calculated were mean, SD, frequency and percentage. Verbatims were transcribed into themes and subthemes.

 

RESULTS:

Section 1: Description of baseline variables of undergraduate nursing students

Table no. 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of undergraduates nursing students                                              n=122

Sl. No

Baseline variables

Frequency

%

1

Age

  <25

 >=25

 

119

3

 

97.5%

2.5%

2

Name of the college

St. John’s college of nursing

St. Theresa’s college of nursing

 

88

34

 

72.1%

27.9%

3

Areas of residence

Urban

Rural

 

117

5

 

95.9%

4.1%

4

Head of the family

Father

Mother

 

114

8

 

93.4%

6.6%

5

Occupation

Professionals

Clerks/ Skilled workers and shop and markets sales workers.

Skilled agricultural and fishery workers / Craft and related trade workers.

Non clerks

 

22

46

 

37

 

 

17

 

18%

37.7%

 

30.3%

 

 

14%

 

 

Table no.1 shows that 97.5% of the population belonged to <25 age group, out of which 72.1% of population are from St. John’s college of nursing, 95.9% residing in urban and 93.4% with their father as head of the family, 37.7% were working as clerks/skilled workers and shop and market sales workers, 30.3% as skilled agricultural and fishery workers and 18% professionals as their occupations.

 

 

Section 2: Description of scores of R-ATR of undergraduate nursing students.

Table no. 2: Mean, mean percentage and standard deviation of domain wise attitude towards research.                                     n:122

Variables

Maximum score

Range

Mean

Mean %

Standard deviation

Research usefulness 

28

5-28

21

75.00%

5.52

Anxiety

35

5-35

17.2

49.14%

7.16

Positive research predisposition

28

4-28

16

57.14%

5.69

Total score

91

22-86

54.2

59.56%

13.5

 

 

The above table showed that the undergraduate nursing students had mean percentage of 75% in research usefulness, mean percentage of 49.14% with anxiety and 57.14% with positive research predisposition. Hence, higher the score better the attitude towards research.

 

Section 3: Perceived challenges towards research of undergraduates nursing students.

 

Objective 2: To explore the perceived challenges of undergraduates nursing students

THEMES

SUBTHEMES

1. Abstract in Nature

Difficulties In Understanding

2. Practical Challenges

Group Cooperation

Physical And Mental Exhaustion

Ineffective Communication

Lack Of Time

3. Expensive

Dtp Expenses [Desktop Publishing]

Other Expenses

4. Concerns about Guidance

Limited Experience Of Guidance

Lack Of Confidence

 

DISCUSSION:

A total of 122 undergraduate nursing students were recruited for the study. Among them 97.5% of the nursing students belonged to the age group <25 years of age, majority that is 72.1% of the nursing students were from St. john’s college of nursing and 95.9% resides in urban area. 93.4% had their father as their head of family and 37.7% belonged to the occupational categories of clerks/ skilled workers, shop and market sales workers.

 

In the present study Revised Attitude Towards Research [R-ATR] scale constructed by Elena Papanastasiou was used to assess the attitude of undergraduate nursing students towards research. The tool had 3 domains namely 1. Research usefulness 2. anxiety 3. positive research predisposition. An overall attitude toward research mean score of 54.2 and standard deviation of 13.5 was observed with the mean percentage of 59.56%. This shows that the majority of the students have positive attitude towards research.

 

DOMAINS:

In the research usefulness domain, the mean percentage of 75% have been observed that includes research is useful for my career, research is connected to my field of study, the skills I have acquired in research will be helpful for me in future, research should be indispensable in my professional training. 57.14% [mean score] were observed as positive research predisposition which includes the statement of, I enjoyed my research course, I love research courses, I find research courses interesting and research courses are pleasant. 49.14% observed research courses under anxiety domain which include research course make me anxious, research courses scare me, research courses are stressful, research course makes me nervous and research courses are difficult.

 

DISCUSSION RELATED TO PERCEIVED CHALLENGES TOWARDS RESEARCH:

After data analysis four themes were emerged which include 1. Abstract subject 2. Practical obstacle 3. Expensive 4. Concerns about guide.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

·       A comparative study can be conducted among students of different nursing courses with regards to attitude and perceived challenges in research.

·       A similar study could be done in larger sample size, to validate the findings and make generalizations.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Chukwu EO et al. Attitude of student nurses and midwives towards the research; study of school of nursing and midwifery Mkar, Gboko Bnue state, North center Nigeria. South American Journal of Nursing. 2016; 2(1): 1-11

2.      Devrani A. et al. attitude towards research among nurses; and evaluator study; at Quatenary case study in Delhi. International Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research. 2017; 5(3): 41-44.

3.      https://thelogicalindian.com/health/india-has-just-17-nurses-per-1000-population37121

4.      Kakupa, P. Student’s attitude towards research; a study of graduates education students at a Chinese Normal University. Educational process; International Journal. 2019; 8(2): 97-110.

5.      https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/current-affairs-trends/1-961000-nurse-topopulation-ratio-in-india-at-present-govt-to-rajya-sabha8320121.html#:~:text=Sabha%20on%20Tuesday.- , Responding%20to%20a%20question%20in%20the%20Upper%20House%2C%20He alth%20Minister, 43%2C951%20Auxiliary%20Nurse%20Midwives)%2C%20and

6.      P. Chandraiah, Polit and Hungler, nursing research and statistics. 1st edition 2010, Florence Publishers. Page no.1.3.

7.      A.R. Zain, Attitude of Students Towards Research. 2020; 7(5): 101-102 https://www.researchgate.net/.publication/358131015_Attitute_of_students_towards_re search_A_review

8.      American association of medical colleges and Howard Hughes medical Institute. Scientific foundation for future physican Washington, DC/Chevy Chase. MD : 2009

9.      Parahoo K. Nursing Research: Principles, Process and Issues. UK: Palgrare Macmillan; 2014

 

 

 

 

Received on 22.01.2024         Modified on 04.03.2024

Accepted on 08.04.2024        ©A&V Publications All right reserved

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2024; 14(2):167-170.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2024.00033