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Collaborative research through international consortia
Research Collaborative Research T h r o u g h .........===i International Consortia
T
HE DEVELOPMENT of nursing science requires both depth and breadth in nursing research investigations. This cannot be achieved even with solo investigators devoting years of research to their own topics of interest. Such an approach results in many studies on a wide range of topics, but not a systematic development of knowledge of the phenomena of concern in nursing. Furthermore, the studies might have limited generalizability beyond one cultural group or one region of the country. To fully understand nursing concepts, the studies must be replicated on similar populations worldwide. One way to facilitate greater development of nursing science and accelerate the pace at which it is done is to conduct collaborative research studies within an organization, region or country, or within another country. Working with other colleagues in designing studies or assisting them to replicate a study you have completed is valuable. Conducting multisite studies would prevent years of delay in replicating the studies. The collaborative process assists in clarifying phenomena, improving the design, obtaining necessary resources, and facilitating access to subjects in multiple settings (Degner & McWilliams, 1994; Grypdonck & Shortridge-Baggett, 1995; Shortridge, 1994). Participation as a member of a consortium can assist in the conduct of collaborative research. A consortium can provide a forum for research ideas, contact with colleagues with similar interests, a vehicle for regular communication, joint activities, funding for research, symposia, and linkages to other consortia. Two consortia established to promote international exchange with one emphasis being research collaboration are the Consortium of Institutes of Higher Education in Health and Rehabilitation in Europe (COHEHRE) and The North American Consortium in Nursing and Allied Health (NACNAH). The COHEHRE was begun in 1990 with eight institutions (Segeren, 1994). Now COHEHRE has 35 institutions throughout Europe participating in numerLILLIE M. SHORTRIDGE-BAGGETT, EDD, R N , FAAN Professor and Director Center for Nursing Research and Clinical Practice Lienhard School of Nursing Pace University 861 Bedford Rd P leasantville, N Y 10570 Visiting Professor of Nursing Science University of Utrecht The Netherlands Coordinator North American Consortium for Nursing and Allied Health Copyright © 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company 8755-7223/95/1106-0004503.00/0
ous collaborative activities. The N A C N A H was developed in 1993 with four institutions, three in the United States and one in Canada. Formal by-laws and processes for admitting additional member institutions are now being approved. Several collaborative exchange activities within and between the consortia, as well as among member institutions, are occurring. Collaborative research studies have begun at Pace University (United States), The University of Utrecht (The Netherlands), Thomas .Jefferson University (United States), the School for Higher Professional Education in Utrecht (The Netherlands), the School for Higher Professional Education in Nijmegen (The Netherlands), and the University of Ghent (Belgium). Discussions are in process with several other colleagues, including other members of COHEHRE and nonmembers, such as Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. Often, the initial steps after the agreement to undertake a collaborative research program must include an extensive review of literature in the respective countries and the conduct of psychometric testing on any instruments to be used in the study. One example is a collaborative study related to self-efficacy in managing diabetes mellitus, which has involved several years for the development of valid and reliable instruments to conduct the research study. Preliminary research has involved my work as principal investigator; a doctoral student at the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands; several master's students at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, and Pace University, New York; and several research assistants. This process has resulted in six instruments in four formats and two languages. This could not have been accomplished without the consortial collaboration. The improvement of health care is dependent on a strong scientific foundation. Collaborative research through international consortia is one way to facilitate rapid development of a scientific knowledge base. A systematic understanding of the phenomena of concern in nursing is essential for improving the health of people worldwide.
References Degner, L. F., & McWilliams, M. E. (1994). Challenge in conducting cross-national nursing research. InJ. J. Fitzpatrick, J. S. Stevenson, & N. S. Polls (Eds.), Nursing researchandits utilization: International state of the science(pp. 211-215). New York: Springer. Grypdonck, M., & Shortridge-Baggett, L. M. (1995, March). Research program of the project organization nursing sciences:Collaborative nursing researchprogram (CNRP ). Utrecht, The Netherlands: University of Utrecht. Segeren, C. (1994, October). Transatlantic cooperation. COHEHRE Newsletter, H(2) 4-5. Shortridge, L. M. (1994). Nursing research from a Dutch perspective. In J. J. Fitzpatrick, J. S. Stevenson, & N. S. Polis (Eds.), Nursing research and its utilization: International state of the science (pp. 217-221). New York: Springer.
Journal of Professional Nursing, Vol 11, N o 6 ( N o v e m b e r - D e c e m b e r ) , 1995: p 319
319
T
HE DEVELOPMENT of nursing science requires both depth and breadth in nursing research investigations. This cannot be achieved even with solo investigators devoting years of research to their own topics of interest. Such an approach results in many studies on a wide range of topics, but not a systematic development of knowledge of the phenomena of concern in nursing. Furthermore, the studies might have limited generalizability beyond one cultural group or one region of the country. To fully understand nursing concepts, the studies must be replicated on similar populations worldwide. One way to facilitate greater development of nursing science and accelerate the pace at which it is done is to conduct collaborative research studies within an organization, region or country, or within another country. Working with other colleagues in designing studies or assisting them to replicate a study you have completed is valuable. Conducting multisite studies would prevent years of delay in replicating the studies. The collaborative process assists in clarifying phenomena, improving the design, obtaining necessary resources, and facilitating access to subjects in multiple settings (Degner & McWilliams, 1994; Grypdonck & Shortridge-Baggett, 1995; Shortridge, 1994). Participation as a member of a consortium can assist in the conduct of collaborative research. A consortium can provide a forum for research ideas, contact with colleagues with similar interests, a vehicle for regular communication, joint activities, funding for research, symposia, and linkages to other consortia. Two consortia established to promote international exchange with one emphasis being research collaboration are the Consortium of Institutes of Higher Education in Health and Rehabilitation in Europe (COHEHRE) and The North American Consortium in Nursing and Allied Health (NACNAH). The COHEHRE was begun in 1990 with eight institutions (Segeren, 1994). Now COHEHRE has 35 institutions throughout Europe participating in numerLILLIE M. SHORTRIDGE-BAGGETT, EDD, R N , FAAN Professor and Director Center for Nursing Research and Clinical Practice Lienhard School of Nursing Pace University 861 Bedford Rd P leasantville, N Y 10570 Visiting Professor of Nursing Science University of Utrecht The Netherlands Coordinator North American Consortium for Nursing and Allied Health Copyright © 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company 8755-7223/95/1106-0004503.00/0
ous collaborative activities. The N A C N A H was developed in 1993 with four institutions, three in the United States and one in Canada. Formal by-laws and processes for admitting additional member institutions are now being approved. Several collaborative exchange activities within and between the consortia, as well as among member institutions, are occurring. Collaborative research studies have begun at Pace University (United States), The University of Utrecht (The Netherlands), Thomas .Jefferson University (United States), the School for Higher Professional Education in Utrecht (The Netherlands), the School for Higher Professional Education in Nijmegen (The Netherlands), and the University of Ghent (Belgium). Discussions are in process with several other colleagues, including other members of COHEHRE and nonmembers, such as Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. Often, the initial steps after the agreement to undertake a collaborative research program must include an extensive review of literature in the respective countries and the conduct of psychometric testing on any instruments to be used in the study. One example is a collaborative study related to self-efficacy in managing diabetes mellitus, which has involved several years for the development of valid and reliable instruments to conduct the research study. Preliminary research has involved my work as principal investigator; a doctoral student at the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands; several master's students at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, and Pace University, New York; and several research assistants. This process has resulted in six instruments in four formats and two languages. This could not have been accomplished without the consortial collaboration. The improvement of health care is dependent on a strong scientific foundation. Collaborative research through international consortia is one way to facilitate rapid development of a scientific knowledge base. A systematic understanding of the phenomena of concern in nursing is essential for improving the health of people worldwide.
References Degner, L. F., & McWilliams, M. E. (1994). Challenge in conducting cross-national nursing research. InJ. J. Fitzpatrick, J. S. Stevenson, & N. S. Polls (Eds.), Nursing researchandits utilization: International state of the science(pp. 211-215). New York: Springer. Grypdonck, M., & Shortridge-Baggett, L. M. (1995, March). Research program of the project organization nursing sciences:Collaborative nursing researchprogram (CNRP ). Utrecht, The Netherlands: University of Utrecht. Segeren, C. (1994, October). Transatlantic cooperation. COHEHRE Newsletter, H(2) 4-5. Shortridge, L. M. (1994). Nursing research from a Dutch perspective. In J. J. Fitzpatrick, J. S. Stevenson, & N. S. Polis (Eds.), Nursing research and its utilization: International state of the science (pp. 217-221). New York: Springer.
Journal of Professional Nursing, Vol 11, N o 6 ( N o v e m b e r - D e c e m b e r ) , 1995: p 319
319