Nursing and midwifery research grants: profiling the outcomes

Abstract

Objective: To profile the outcomes of nursing and midwifery research that was conducted as a result of a research grant program administered by a nursing and midwifery regulatory authority in Australia between 1996 and 2010.

Design: A cross‑sectional electronic survey relating to research grant outcomes.

Setting: The survey was open to all past and present research grant recipients in Australia.

Subjects: The survey was completed by 71 past and present research grant recipients from across Australia.

Main outcome measures: Survey findings.

Results: Thirty three percent of nursing and midwifery researchers who were funded through a grant program are engaging in research that has implications for the advancement of clinical practice, nursing and midwifery education, indigenous health, mental health, child health, rural and remote nursing and midwifery practice and technological advancement in health care.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that nursing and midwifery researchers are conducting a broad range of research studies that contribute to professional development and to health care in general. Respondents demonstrated the benefits of their research projects through clinical practice improvements, policy changes and through professional networking that contributed to the critical mass of nurse and midwifery research based knowledge. Most respondents disseminated their findings through various media on a national or international basis. The survey findings demonstrate the importance of a continuing commitment to nursing and midwifery research by relevant organisations.