title: Researching in the community: the value and contribution of nurses to community based or primary health care research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the role, contribution and value of research nurses in New Zealand community-based or primary health care research.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Research nurses are increasingly recognised as having a key role in undertaking successful research in hospitals and clinical trial units however only limited work has been undertaken to examine their role in community-based research. Undertaking health research in the community has unique challenges particularly in relation to research design and recruitment and retention of participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe four community-based research projects involving research nurses, each with particular recruitment, retention and logistical problems. Vignettes are used to illustrate the role, contribution and value of research nurses in a diverse range of community research projects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The knowledge and skills used by research nurses in these projects included familiarity with communities, cultural competence, health care systems and practice philosophies and in particular with vulnerable populations. Their research actions and activities include competence with a broad range of research methodologies, organisational efficiency, family-centred approach, along with advocacy and flexibility. These are underpinned by nursing knowledge and clinical expertise contributing to an ability to work autonomously. These four projects demonstrate that research nurses in community-based research possess specific attributes which facilitate successful study development, implementation and outcome.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medicine,Wellington Asthma Research Group,University of Otago,Wellington,New Zealand.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barthow
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medicine,Wellington Asthma Research Group,University of Otago,Wellington,New Zealand.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice,Applied Research on Communication in Health Group,University of Otago,Wellington,New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice,University of Otago,Wellington,New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vernall
authors.affiliation: 5Department of General Practice,Medical Education Advisor,University of Otago,Wellington,New Zealand.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: 6Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice,University of Otago,Wellington Box 7343,Wellington South,New Zealand.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McKinlay
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control; D007223:Infant; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009520:New Zealand; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011247:Pregnancy; D011320:Primary Health Care; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D036301:Qualitative Research; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods
keywords: general practice research; primary health care research; research nurse; role; skills