Research-training needs of clinical nurses: A nationwide study among tertiary hospitals in China

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate Chinese tertiary hospital nurses’ research output, research ability, and their related training needs regarding scientific research methodology and analyze the relations among them. METHODS: A nationwide survey was conducted in China on a large sample of tertiary hospital nurses (n = 27,335) recruited from 22 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. A validated, self-designed questionnaire, consisted of a common questionnaire, the Science Research Skills Self-Rating Questionnaire (SRSQ) and the Scientific Research Training Needs Questionnaire (SRTNQ) were used to assess nurses’ research output, self-rated research skills and research-training needs. RESULTS: The nurses’ scientific research participation rates (with 4.13%, 7.85%, 5.35%, and 2.04% in research projects, research attendance, papers published, and patent, respectively) and their self-rated research skills 25.00 (12.50, 37.50) were very low. However, the research training needs were relatively high 53.12(37.50, 75.00). Significant differences in research participation rates (research projects, research attendance, papers published, and patent), scientific research skills, and research-training needs were determined by age, highest education level, nursing experience, employment, technical title, administrative post, and clinical tutoring experience (P < 0.05). Female and male nurses had different research participation rates (only research projects and studies published) and scientific research skills (P < 0.05). Positive correlations were observed among research output, scientific research skills, and research-training needs (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses’ scientific research participation and self-rated research ability were below the optimal despite that they had relatively high research-training needs. Nurses should be provided further research training with tailored content to their characteristics and capacity.