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NMRC Research Fund

Procedure for application

FY2004

FY2003

FY2002

FY2001

FY2000

FY1999

FY1998

FY1997

Brief Findings

NMRC Research Fund

MOH NRC obtains block research grants from NMRC to set up and maintain resources for nursing research and to finance nursing research projects. It also funds CPG development activities and research training activities.

If you require funding for your research study or systematic review, follow the process outlined in the flowchart, complete the application form for research study or application form for systematic review for research grant and send it to:

Chairperson
Ministry of Health Nursing Research Committee
Nursing Branch
Ministry of Health
16, College Road
Singapore 169854

 

Flowchart: Procedure for application

NMRC Funded projects (FY2004)

NMRC Funded projects (FY2003)

NMRC Funded projects (FY2002)

NMRC Funded projects (FY2001)

NMRC Funded projects (FY2000)

NMRC Funded projects (FY1999)

NMRC Funded projects (FY1998)

NMRC Funded projects (FY1997)

Breif Findings

A cross-sectionall survey design was used to explore and compare the views of nurses working the 12-hour shift system in the intensive care settings of a Singapore hospital and a UK Healthcare Trust. Results showed that respondents were generally positive about the 12-hour shift system. More respondents in Singapore than the UK felt exhausted and had inadequate rest between the 12-hour shifts. Efforts need to be made to further minimise tiredness, facilitate communication and ensure opportunities for further training and education under the 12-hour shift system.

 

This questionnaire survey examined 134 Registered and Enrolled Nurses' reasons for using restraints and their attitudes towards physical restraints in a local acute hospital. The study found that preventing patients from falling out of bed and from pulling of intravenous lines were the main reasons for physical restraints. The respondents generally felt comfortable restraining patients when indicated and recognised that patients should have the right to refuse restraints.

 

This descriptive study was conducted on 330 parents to examine their willingness and actual participation in the care of their child's activities of daily living during hospitalisation. All the parents whose children (aged 1 month to 5 years) were admitted to 8 general paediatric medical and surgical wards in an acute children's hospital were asked to complete a questionnaire 12 hours post-admission. The findings demonstrated that 89% of parents were willing to participate in their child's ADL with an exception of a few activities.

 

This retrospective study conducted in a local acute hospital was based on infection control records and incident reports from 1997 to 2000. It was reported that the rates of reported sharp injuries were 11.0 per 100 medical staff and 6.9 per 100 nursing staff. More than half (62.2%) of all injuries were caused by hollow bore needles. The author highlighted several recommendations to address the findings.

 

This study explored from the nurses' perspective and aimed to identify areas for improvement to enhance nursing as an attractive life-long career. Several issues on work conditions, remuneration and medical benefits were discussed. Predictors for attractiveness of nursing as a career and sense of fulfilment were also examined. Nurses want to do more for the profession and they want to be recognised for their contribution.

 

This second phase of the study on perception of nursing aimed to identify areas for improvement to enhance nursing as an attractive life-long career. It used a self-administered questionnaire and surveyed 1000 adult and young Singaporeans.

 

This study seeks to explore nursing home staff perceptions of the needs of elderly residents in nursing homes. Exploratory and descriptive research design was employed. Data was collected from 175 staff members rom 13 voluntary welfare nursing homes. The measurement tool consists of a 34 statements 4-point Likert scale based on Maslow Hierarchy of Human Needs, six demographic questions and one open-ended question. Findings revealed that the perceptions were varied. However, the highest scoring domain was Physiological Need (55.7%), while the lowest was Esteem Need (14.8%). The most frequently mentioned theme in the open-ended question was the need for support, involvement and visitation by family members.

 

Increasing number of elderly are being admitted to nursing homes, but there is limited knowledge on their needs. This study aims to explore the needs from the residents' perspective. Exploratory and descriptive resaerch design was employed. Data was collected from 173 residents from 8 voluntary welfare nursing homes. A questionnaire, comprising of a 28-statement 3-point Likert scale based on Maslow Hierarchy of Needs and an exploratory question was administered face to face with the residents. "To be respected" (Esteem Need) was ranked the highest by 157 (90.8%) residents, followed by the need "for environment to be safe" (Safety Need) and "to feel cared for and happy" (Love and Belonging Needs) (both at 88.4%, n=153), "To have good relationsip with staff" was third (86.7%, n=150). "Making new friends of the opposite sex: (Love and Belonging Needs) ranked the lowest (31.8%, n=55). The most frequently mentioned item in the open-ended question was food.

 

This descriptive self-administered questionnaire survey examined 409 nurses' attitudes towards the mentally-ill. It was found that nurses working in the short-stay wards were more positive than those working in the long-stay wards. Nursing Officers have more positive attitude than the Staff Nurses amd Enrolled Nurses. Nurses in the age group of 31 to 50 years, with advanced dipoma or degree in nursing or post-basic certificate and with more than 10 years of psychiatric nursing experience showed a more positive attitude.

This study reported higher needs for information on the dosage, frequency, and side effects of the oral medications. Majority of them indicated doctors as the preferred health care professionals to provide information on their medications. However, the study found that among those who received information, nurses were the main providers. Also, only a fifth of the patients interviewed received information on their medications and patients’ knowledge decreased as the number of medications prescribed increased.

This project was presented in Alexandra Hospital Nursing Research Seminar on 15 Apr 2000.

 

This comparative study evaluated the effectiveness of the Canadian Neurological Scale (CNS) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for early detection of deterioration. An investigation of the scales’ inter-rater reliabilities, internal consistencies, sensitivities and specificities in the local context was also made. All of the 150 acute stroke subjects were assessed hourly using both scales. The study found that the CNS was internally consistent. It has high inter-rater reliability and a better positive predictive value compared to GCS.

 

This randomised controlled trial revealed that the control group was at 2 times higher risk than the experimental group in developing pressure sores. Besides, subjects cared by family member were at higher risk than those cared for by maids. It was also found that those not turned at night proved to be 2 times more likely to develop pressure sores. Such information has the ability to assist identification of patients who are at high risk and increase staff’s and carers’ awareness in the prevention of pressure sores among homebound patients in the community.

 

This study was conducted to investigate the impact of using 4-day end-line filters on infusion phlebitis in Singapore. In this second study of its kind in Singapore, 35% of the 100 control patients who were given antibiotics had phlebitis compared to a phlebitis rate of 8% for 394 patients placed on 4-day end-line filters. This suggests the beneficial use of end-line filtration to deliver intravenous therapy.

The paper is accepted for publication by the Journal of Intravenous Nursing in 2001 and will be presented at the 2001 Intravenous Nurses Society Annual Meeting and Industrial Exhibition on 28 Apr to 3 May 2001 in Indianapolis,Indiana, USA.

 

The study highlighted the need to clarify existing policies, especially in the areas of identifying what constitutes a medication error, when a medication error should be reported to the doctor and when an incident report should be completed. The record for documenting a medication error should be structured to elicit the responses necessary for trending and for critical analysis of the data provided, without implying a punitive action towards the healthcare provider who commits the error. Punitive systems should be replaced by systems that allow for support, education, and critical assessment of the reasons for medication errors.

This project was presented in Alexandra Hospital Nursing Research Seminar on 15 Apr 2000.

 

The three most frequently cited reasons for defaulting treatments were inconvenience, dissatisfaction and cost. Inconvenience was reported to be largely related to transport and the need to provide informal carers to accompany the participants to the centres or to be present throughout the duration of stay. Dissatisfaction may be due to misunderstanding of the services provided. Only 54% indicated that the payment was reasonable.

 

This study found that patients generally reported positive experiences and satisfaction with nursing care in the hospital. However, they perceived a lack of provision of information to patients by the nurses. With these findings, the nursing administrators would be able to improve the range and standard of care provided.

It was presented in Alexandra Hospital Nursing Research Seminar in Apr 2000.

The study examined factors such as age, gender, nationality, basic professional qualification, length of service, job appointment and computer familiarity and how they correlate with computer attitudes. The results indicated the validity of the Computer Anxiety Index (CAIN) and the Nurses’ Attitudes towards Computerisation Questionnaire (NATC) in ascertaining the general status of nurses’ computer attitudes. The significant correlations of some individual characteristics, and the predictors for computer anxiety and attitudes towards computerisation were identified.

This paper was published in the Singapore Nursing Journal Vol 27 No 4 Oct-Dec 2000. The study was presented in 34th Singapore Malaysia Medical Conference held in Suntec City in Aug 2000.

 

The non-compliant patient could be described as male, aged 30-49, Chinese, single, uneducated, unemployed, living with parents or sibling who are their key caregivers. The psychiatric profile of the patients appears to be one who have been experiencing the illness for many years, had numerous readmissions, follow-up at the outpatient clinic, had not attended the patient education program and did not have community support services. The major factors identified by these patients for non-compliance was medication side effects and the perception that they did not require medications.

 

The reasons for the multiple readmissions by this patient-type group were examined in this retrospective study. The two factors that appear to have the greatest effort on hospital readmission were found to be relationship problem with parents/siblings and substance abuse. The study also revealed that the recurrent admission patient group is more likely to be linked with community psychiatric support services than the non-recurrent admission group of patients.

 

Students in general have a positive attitude towards caring for patients with HIV and AIDS. However, only half of the students were aware that infected HIV individuals do not manifest visible signs. More than a third felt that the disease was a punishment for immoral lifestyle. Male nursing students, the younger students and those with religious beliefs have more positive perception and better understanding of AIDS/HIV transmission.

This paper was published in the Singapore Nursing Journal Vol 27 No 4 Oct-Dec 2000. It was also presented in the 10th European Association of Nurses for AIDS Care Conference in Malta in 1999 and in the AIDS Seminar held in COMB, MOH on 6 Dec 1999.

 

The study found that the prevalence of pressure sores was 14% in AH, 9% in CGH and 14% in TTSH. The incidence was 5% for AH, 10% for CGH and 16% for TTSH. The accuracy of the Braden score in predicting the development of pressure sore was also assessed. The most appropriate cut-off score to be used in acute hospitals should be 18. It is envisaged that at this score, it will be possible to achieve greater accuracy in predicting the risk for pressure sore development.

 

No statistically significant relationship between knowledge and blood pressure was established. Nevertheless, more than four-fifths of the subjects identified health care professionals as the main source of information. Indeed, 92% expressed that the health education provided by nurses at the polyclinics were helpful. High level of medication compliance was also established. This was also ascertained by 96.4% of subjects being able to correctly state the frequency and dosage of their prescribed medicine.