2006 Profile of Postgraduate Critical Care Nursing Research in South Africa

ABSTRACT

Aim. The aim of the study was to compile a profile of postgraduate critical care nursing research completed during 2006 in the nursing departments of South African universities; and to determine the extent to which this research contributes to the development of a unique body of specialist South African nursing knowledge. Method. The critical care nursing programme leader at each university completed an electronic questionnaire. Results. A total of 16 critical care master's projects (but no doctorate projects) were completed. Completed projects came from only 7 of the 10 universities that offer a postgraduate programme in critical care nursing. To date; only 1 of the projects (6.3) has been published and 3 (18.8) have been presented at a national critical care congress. Conclusion. The number and focus of the 2006 projects are comparable with the 2000 - 2005 profile. Research dissemination from South African postgraduate critical care nursing research remains poor