Nursing outlook
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In the era of evidence-based practice (EBP), Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) may provide the best evidence of the efficacy of nursing interventions and yet the quality of RCT reporting in nursing literature has not been evaluated. The purposes of this study were to apply the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement to published reports of nursing science, examine how adequately the published reports adhere to the statement, and examine the effect of the adoption of CONSORT on the quality of the RCT published reports. One hundred RCTs from 2002-2005 were identified from 4 nursing journals. ⋯ The quality of reporting of RCTs improved significantly in the only journal, Nursing Research, to adopt the CONSORT statement during the study period (t =-2.70, P =.01). Adoption of CONSORT is recommended as it may lead to an overall improvement in quality of reporting of RCTs in nursing journals. The profession may also wish to explore the use or development of standards similar to CONSORT but ones more appropriate for the types of research typical of that published by nurse scientists.
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Carper's ways of knowing in nursing, empirics, esthetics, personal knowing, and ethics, provide a guide to holistic practice, education, and research. The origin and evolution of the ways of knowing are discussed and applied to current and proposed hope research with bereaved palliative caregivers, with the ultimate goal of promoting healthy, positive outcomes for this unique population. ⋯ Unknowing and sociopolitical knowing offer a critical perspective as research is developed and applied, while considering complexity and social context. Nursing research from diverse epistemological perspectives will enhance the effectiveness and appropriateness of evidence-based practice.