Research to get involved in Research Making connections begins with curiosity Tell me about... Regional research leads Research insights Research rarely begins with a big, funded project. Often it’s the things in our work that we are most excited about, or most troubled by, that prompt us to think about research. Maybe you want to connect with people in similar fields so you can find out what they’re doing about a problem you face. Or perhaps you need to know the evidence that’s been published about a treatment approach, because you think something could be improved.

You might be considering your own research, or be interested in doing a post graduate research degree. There are lots of ways to get started. Many universities offer Masters in Research (MRes) programmes that will help you become confident in finding and critiquing evidence and literature, refine a research question so that it can be answered, and learn how to begin designing a research project. And there are often informal groups in your local area that will provide information, support and encouragement if you’re not sure where to begin. If you can’t find a local contact, get in touch with us at office@qnis.org.uk and we’ll try to help.

Even if you have never thought of yourself as someone interested in research, something in these pages might create a spark in your mind and inspire you to explore.

Utilising data to understand the nursing profession At university I studied the social sciences, eventually completing my doctorate at the University of St Andrews, which had a growing reputation for using large, linked administrative data. The work being undertaken by the university amazed me – their research demonstrated how people’s social circumstances could impinge on their lives. Since then, I have... Keep reading Read the latest blog

Research to get involved in Researchers often need community nurses and midwives to help with research projects, perhaps to respond to surveys or as participants in interviews or focus groups. Sometimes they are looking for your perspective on an aspect of their research, maybe in a professional advisory capacity. They might also want to understand how care or treatment is delivered in a particular context or for a particular group of people, to help with research project design. We encourage you to support these research projects if you can, however big or small they might be. Always make sure you understand the ethical implications of taking part – researchers should provide clear information about their ethical approval processes and what you can expect if you get involved. Digital Health for Heart Health Heart disease is a collection of different conditions that can affect how the heart works. It includes issues such as coronary heart disease, irregular heart rhythm, heart failure, and problems with heart valves. Digital health means using technology and digital tools to make healthcare better. It has the potential to change the way we take care of people with heart disease... Project 04 Coming soon...
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Research projects and insights The research projects here are sharing brief summaries of their insights and conclusions, sometimes with links to other resources they might have produced as part of their project. Some projects share interim findings along the way, especially if the research is designed to be conducted over several years or in different phases. Exploring the dynamics of the nursing workforce The overall aim of this pilot study is to understand change in the nursing workforce including the current profile (who enters, stays and leaves and for how long), the demographic and geographical influences on the profile and risk factors, plus the implications for the workforce and future planning of the workforce. If we can learn more about the socio-economic... Anticipatory Prescribing Research Alert Ensuring that patients die in comfort is an essential goal of end-of-life care. For the 51% of patients who die at home or in a care home in the UK, obtaining medical assessments and prescriptions for last-days-of-life symptom control, and drugs from pharmacies during lengthy overnight and weekend hours can be challenging and at times impossible. Dying in pain or distress is a cause of considerable...
Missingness
interventions This study aims to develop a theoretically informed understanding of ‘missingness’ from patient, professional and policy perspectives. ‘Missingness’ is defined here as the repeated tendency not to take up offers of care such that it has a negative impact on the person and their life chances. The research is funded by NIHR (the National Institute of Health and Care Research and will help us understand... Project 05 Coming soon...









Effectiveness of NHS Grampian FIP This qualitative research study interviewed parents, health visitors, community midwives, and family nurse practitioners about their experiences of enacting, and benefitting from, the Financial Inclusion Pathway. Data were collected in 2021, before the current cost of living crisis, and told us that although parents appreciated the FIP concept as something that could help reduce stigma and... Project 06 Coming soon...

Making connections Share research If you are a researcher and would like to share information or reach out to community nurses and midwives on our website, you can contact: sarah.doyle@qnis.org.uk Dr Sarah Doyle Blog ideas We have a series of occasional blogs about skills, methods, methodologies, problems, pitfalls, reflections and experiences of doing research. We tend to invite people to write these but if you have an idea for a blog you would like us to publish here, please get in touch with: sarah.doyle@qnis.org.uk Dr Sarah Doyle Other organisations There are lots of organisations that provide support and resources that could be useful for community nurses and midwives interested in getting involved in research. Chief Scientist Office The CSO is part of the Scottish Government Health Directorates and wants Scotland to be recognised as a ‘come to place’ for health science. Supporting High Quality Health Research in Scotland | CSO Council of Deans Health Scotland The CoDH Scotland is the independent and strategic voice of education and research for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in Scotland’s universities. Council of Deans of Health, Scotland Enrich Scotland Enrich Scotland brings together care home staff, residents and researchers to enable research in care homes. ENRICH Scotland | NHS Research Scotland The International Collaboration for Community Health Nursing Research The International Collaboration for Community Health Nursing Research is a global network that aims to advance and share knowledge. It offers occasional scholarships and funding. ICCHNR NHS Research Scotland NHS Research Scotland is a partnership formed between NHSScotland health boards and the Chief Scientist Office (CSO). It focuses on clinical and translational research and hosts information on a very wide range of topics. NHS Research Scotland North East Scotland Centre for Applied Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research NoSCAR is a multidisciplinary research centre in the North East of Scotland, providing a forum for nurturing a research culture. School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedica Practice Blog| NoSCAR strategy Nursing Midwifery and Allied health Professions Research Unit NMAHP-RU is a multidisciplinary national research unit funded by the Scottish Government. It has academic bases within Glasgow Caledonian University and University of Stirling. Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research Unit The Queens Nursing Institute in England Wales and Northern Ireland The Queens Nursing Institute in England Wales and Northern Ireland have a community nursing research forum for peer support, which is also open to community nurses and midwives in Scotland. Community Nursing Research Forum | The QNI Research Data Scotland Research Data Scotland promotes and advances health and social wellbeing in Scotland by enabling access to public sector data about people, places and businesses. Research Data Scotand Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research SCADR analyses data from across the public sector, exploring what linking it in new ways can reveal. SCADR Vitae Vitae provide skills training and development for researchers and have a wide range of resources on their website. Researcher Professional Development | Vitae

Dr Deborah Baldie
Lead Nurse for Research and Practice Development
NHS Grampian
deborah.baldie@nhs.scot Email Dr Baldie The Lead Nurse for research and practice development is a key role that facilitates and supports clinical nurses and midwives to gain skills in research, and to access formal training such as MRes, PhD or professional doctorate programmes. It also focuses on building a culture of research and research use in practice, supporting communities of practice to develop skills in searching and using evidence in practice and in doing research. The role does I do this alongside a range of colleagues in the North of Scotland Centre for Applied Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research.

Practitioners can get help with identifying research priorities; writing grants and fellowship applications; developing clinical academic career plans; constructing strong evaluation plans for projects and writing for publication.

The Board are keen to start offering a range of other research development opportunities beyond the current suite of doctoral training such as clinical research nurse undergraduate placements; chief/ lead nurse scholarships that use research to explore or resolve a practice issue; pre-doctoral scholarships that help people develop competitive PhD applications; and post-doctoral fellowships.

Anyone interested in getting in touch about developing a research idea or accessing research training then please email Debbie. Dr Juliet MacArthur
Chief Nurse Research and Development
NHS Lothian
juliet.macarthur@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk Email Dr MacArthur As Chief Nurse Research and Development, Juliet has a key role in providing professional leadership for the clinical research nursing and midwifery workforce in NHS Lothian and for research capacity building for nurses, midwives, AHPs, pharmacists and healthcare scientists (NMAHPPS). She leads the implementation of a collaborative NMAHPPS Research Strategy, working in partnership with University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, Stirling University, Robert Gordon University and Strathclyde University.

NHS Lothian has a long history of research capacity building since 2010 and there are currently 26 nurses and midwives undertaking doctoral studies alongside their clinical roles, many of them from community and primary care settings. One example is Kath Williamson, Manual Handling Advisor and recent District Nurse.

NHS Lothian has created the Lothian Clinical Academic Research Gateway Awards, providing 5 different types of funded awards, including ‘First Steps into Research’ for clinical staff seeking early career experience of working with established clinical and academic research teams. Other collaborative initiatives that aim to create a culture of collaborative partnership between the NHS and higher education includes the Lothian Clinical and Academic Homes Framework, which was launched in October 2021.

Any community nurses and midwives working in NHS Lothian who are interested in research are very welcome to contact Juliet Regional research leads