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Women’s anxieties surrounding breast disorders: a systematic review of the literature A systematic review of the research literature published in English between 1990 and 1999 was carried out to discover whether women with benign breast disorders suffer similar amounts of anxiety to women with breast cancer in the time between discovery of the problem and receiving a diagnosis, to include the immediate postdiagnosis phase. The study was limited to primary research papers with explicit methodology applicable to hospital specialist breast clinics where the main focus of the papers was anxiety and/or psychological distress. Studies focusing exclusively on routine breast screening or exclusively on women with previously diagnosed breast cancer were omitted. A protocol for the review was agreed at the outset, addressing selection criteria, search procedures, methods of data extraction and analysis, and dissemination. Search terms were refined as the study progressed. A data extraction tool was constructed based on Benton and Cormack’s framework (, pp. 80–81). An initial search revealed 89 papers. Fourteen papers were found to meet the criteria for inclusion. The main findings were that women with benign breast disorders and those with breast cancer suffered from similar levels of anxiety and psychological distress in the period from first being aware of the problem up to the time of receiving a diagnosis. Anxiety levels were found to fall more quickly in women with benign disorders postdiagnosis. Methodological flaws were detracted from the rigour of many of the studies. Implications for practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reviews the literature relating to the provision of community psychiatric nursing to demented elderly people and their informal family caregivers, and develops priorities for research in that particular area of nursing. Initially, the development of community psychiatric nursing with elderly demented people is examined. Various theoretical models articulating the family's experience of dementia are examined as a basis for identifying various priorities for research in the area. Empirical evidence relating to the efficacy of various interventions is briefly discussed. Various priorities are made regarding the development of research relating to the development of community psychiatric nursing with elderly demented people and their informal caregivers. Finally the paper is placed in the context of the present policy of refocusing psychiatric nursing on to people with serious and enduring mental disorders. It is argued that this policy should include elderly demented people not just younger people with functional mental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the progress made in the measurement of the 'outcomes' of nursing. Although nursing has a long history of outcome research which extends as far back as Florence Nightingale, an examination of the literature over the past 30 years gives little impression of progress. Significant difficulties still remain in identifying outcomes relevant to nursing intervention, measurement techniques and appropriate study designs. However, progress has been made. The paper examines various recent trends which point to ways forward for outcome research. In particular it is emphasized that future work should build upon the strengths of past work in the use of measurement tools and the identification of relevant variables. Outcome research in nursing should not be limited to identifying the immediate results of nursing intervention, nor should research into 'structure' or 'process' variables be neglected. Such concepts are vital to determining the nursing contribution to changes in a patient's health and well being. The future of outcome research depends on a range of appropriate research methods and measurement techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the author seeks to address issues of personal and professional development that may occur during the research process. Whilst research reports now abound in the nursing literature, this personal aspect is often neglected. As we seek to encourage research awareness within the profession, many student and qualified nurses now produce a small research project, and this often concentrates on measurable outcomes. By examining her own perceived learning in resolving epistemological pluralism whilst undertaking such a project as a tutor student, the author has attempted to resolve the problem of ignoring the personal. Indeed, she believes that increased self-awareness can only enhance nursing professionalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research information in nurses’ clinical decision-making: what is useful? Aim. To examine those sources of information which nurses find useful for reducing the uncertainty associated with their clinical decisions. Background. Nursing research has concentrated almost exclusively on the concept of research implementation. Few, if any, papers examine the use of research knowledge in the context of clinical decision-making. There is a need to establish how useful nurses perceive information sources are, for reducing the uncertainties they face when making clinical decisions. Design. Cross-case analysis involving qualitative interviews, observation, documentary audit and Q methodological modelling of shared subjectivities amongst nurses. The case sites were three large acute hospitals in the north of England, United Kingdom. One hundred and eight nurses were interviewed, 61 of whom were also observed for a total of 180 hours and 122 nurses were involved in the Q modelling exercise. Results. Text-based and electronic sources of research-based information yielded only small amounts of utility for practising clinicians. Despite isolating four significantly different perspectives on what sources were useful for clinical decision-making, it was human sources of information for practice that were overwhelmingly perceived as the most useful in reducing the clinical uncertainties of nurse decision-makers. Conclusions. It is not research knowledge per se that carries little weight in the clinical decisions of nurses, but rather the medium through which it is delivered. Specifically, text-based and electronic resources are not viewed as useful by nurses engaged in making decisions in real time, in real practice, but those individuals who represent a trusted and clinically credible source are. More research needs to be carried out on the qualities of people regarded as clinically important information agents (specifically, those in clinical nurse specialist and... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information on developments in the field of nursing and health care. The Lynly S. Aitken Fellowship for 1978 was awarded to Margaret M. Overell, a nurse at the Coburg Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia. She used the award to study the nursing services in Great Britain and North America and observed community nursing care programmes with particular interest. The third biennial report of Edinburgh University's nursing research unit for the period January 1976 to December 1977 has recently been published. The report contains details about research projects completed, ongoing research and educational activities and future plans.

Editorial. Discusses the significance of the results of the 2001 United Kingdom Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) on the nursing profession in Great Britain. Lowest median score by the nursing research sector in the RAE of 1992 and 1996; Changes in RAE methodologies; Scoring system of the RAE; Impact of low nursing scores on the survival of nursing in higher education as a research-based discipline.

Nursing students’ perceptions of research: usefulness, implementation and training Aims. The present study explored students’ perceptions of the usefulness of research for nursing practice; beliefs about difficulties in implementing research on the wards; and finally, their satisfaction with the research training received. Background. Anecdotal reports of nursing students’ dislike of research. Method. Recruiting preregistration students for the present study was the first obstacle, and so the sample size remained small, consisting of 12 students. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and later transcribed. Results. The findings indicated that resistance, both by students and by qualified nurses, was a recurring issue. Several students disagreed with the training and expressed a need for more practical experience. Conclusions. Overall, the present study suggests that educational and organizational improvements need to be introduced to transform nursing into a research-active profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modem nursing has its origins in the pioneering research of Florence Nightingale but a research approach to nursing problems was never transmitted as part of the traditions of the Nightingale pattern of nurse training. Although nurses in North America established nursing education programmes in centres of higher education as long ago as 1899, British nurses did not utilize these facilities until the 1950's. This intimated against the proper preparation of British nurses for research and the innovation of nursing research activities was therefore drastically delayed in the United Kingdom. Such research as there was tended to focus on nurses rather than nursing. The Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom, together with the Department of Health and Social Security, London, sponsored a number of nursing care research projects in the late 1960's. This was followed, in the 1970's, by an upsurge of research interest and research activity among British nurses. But it is still very difficult to demonstrate any direct benefits from nursing research interest or activity on patient care. There are also problems associated with the lack of experimental and replicated studies, the dearth of research-minded nurses and the apparent lack of interest in implementing nursing research findings. This places a great responsibility on the teachers of nurses. Hope is on the horizon. This is fostered by recent syllabuses and guides produced by British statutory bodies responsible for basic and post basic nursing research. In conclusion, the author argues that nursing research activity should not be permitted to become an end in itself. The search for a research base for nursing should be motivated primarily by a desire to achieve better nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports developments related to nursing in Great Britain as of June 1996. Publication of the studies undertaken by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting; Proliferation of dementia; Distribution of an information pack for health and social care professionals involved in community support for AIDS patients.

Focuses on the deployment of graduate nursing students on replication studies in Great Britain. Status of nursing research and development; Issue on intellectual freedom in research; Availability of resources for nursing research.