Building nurses' leadership and research capacity through international mentoring

Abstract

<p>The need to develop sound research to inform health care planning and policy development in health care is well documented. However, not all areas of health care have seen adequate research productivity and there is general under-utilization of research evidence to inform professional practice. In nursing, and among nurses, it has been recognized that there is insufficient leadership and research experience and skills necessary for knowledge production and quality, evidence-based nursing care. This is particularly problematic in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where the issue of inadequate leadership and research capacity is more severe. A number of researchers have investigated the significance of building research capacity among health professionals in lower and middle income countries. However, assessing and developing research capacity specifically among LMIC nurses has not been given due attention, despite calls for a more prominent nursing voice in health services and policy decision-making. Interventions targeted at developing nursing research and knowledge translation capacity, and steps to include nursing expertise in decision-making arenas, has the potential to improve health policy effectiveness and improve quality of health services. The paper will present the process of mentoring across international boundaries as one way of strengthening individual and institutional research environments and capacities. It is based on an individual level North-South collaboration between academic researchers in two countries, which has resulted in a number of initiatives such as research studies, on-site mentoring in Canada and a number of knowledge translations activities. The paper will conclude with specific strategies necessary to enhance the research and policy development capacity of health professionals from low middle income countries.</p>