Use of physiologic variables in nursing research.
In this study, the use of physiologic variables is described in research reports published 1989-1993 in four broad-based research journals. The National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) emphasizes the need for more physiologically based nursing research. This analysis documents the current number and proportion of such research reported in four journals during a 5-year period. Each report was evaluated for the population sampled, type of physiologic variable, type of study, definitions, and reporting of reliability and validity measures. Among the 763 reports, 114 (15%) examined physiologic variables. The most frequently studied physiologic variables were blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. The majority of studies posed and answered a clinical nursing question, and the study populations sampled were adults. Theoretical and operational definitions were included in most reports. Evidence of reliability and validity analysis were in 36% and 60% of the reports respectively. Although most nursing research focuses primarily on psychosocial aspects of care, several conceptual and psychometric issues were also addressed in studies that examined physiologic variables.
Pugh
L C
LC
School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
DeKeyser
F G
FG
D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design