Assessment of knowledge and attitudes towards health research among nurses working in public health facilities in Botswana

Abstract

Nurses as professionals and front-liners in patient care should possess good knowledge about health research, as this is critical in improving patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and attitudes that public health clinic nurses possess regarding health research in Botswana in order to make recommendations to enhance a research culture among nurses. A quantitative study with a cross-sectional study design was used. Twenty-six clinics in Gaborone were sampled and 168 nurses participated in the survey. Data was analysed using Stata version 15.1. Only 51% of the nurses demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of health research. Despite this limited knowledge, nurses had a good attitude towards health research (66%). Degree nurses were more likely to have satisfactory knowledge, as were those who reported research training and experience. Additionally, research training and experience were associated with a good attitude. Recommendations include provision of research training and practicums as part of the nursing education curriculum, as well as in-service training, in order to improve the levels of knowledge of health research among nurses.