Nursing Research Within Bone Marrow Transplantation in Europe: An Evaluation

Abstract

The limited contribution of nursing research and the utilisation of research findings in the field of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in Europe have been identified as issues needing further attention. Reasons behind these issues include the lack of nursing training in research techniques, problems with funding nursing research, staff shortages and language barriers. An overall research strategy for nurses has been suggested as well as academic research support for those nurses who do not feel confident carrying out research projects. A small scale study in four European BMT centres identified that the main nursing research priorities included isolation techniques, psychosocial and quality of life issues, staff issues, central line catheter care and mouth care/management of oral mucositis. The same study also showed that only 20% of the BMT units regularly use research and research findings in their day-to-day nursing practice.

Further evaluation of a scale to screen for risk of emotional difficulties in bone marrow transplant recipients

“…Although the scale provided substantial evidence for its validity and appropriateness with the BMT population, it has been used minimally in clinical practice to date. This might be a result of a combination of factors, including nursing time constraints, lack of confidence in using the scale/structured interview or attention mainly to the physical problems related to illness and the treatment, with psychological problems being secondary ( Molassiotis 1997). However, the identification of patients `at risk' for psychological difficulties during BMT is important and the development of an assessment instrument or system that could systematically identify at‐risk patients prior to or very early in the course of BMT, before problems occur, would be a worthwhile endeavour.…”