The observation as a strategy to generate research questions: an experience in a psychiatric ward

The observation as a strategy to generate research questions: an experience in a psychiatric ward. Introduction. The daily activity could, and should, be the natural setting where research hypotheses are generated, specifically in areas of care where the frequency of problems Evidence Based Practice "orphans" is high, such as psychiatry. Aims. To test the possibility and the yeld of identifying-formulating research needs and hypotheses from - within nursing duties. Methods. Prospective registration of clinical conditions decisions to be taken from a position of substantial uncertainty over a pilot period of 7 working days. Results. Up to 39 diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitation, organizational, behavioral problems have been and included in the diary and associated with one or more hypothesis considered to be a potential need/opportunity for observational and/or experimental research. Conclusions. Psychiatry is very rarely among the priorities of nursing attention and research, thus exposing nursing care to a systematic risk of empirical-uncontrolled practices.