Nursing research capacity and its management in China: A systematic review

Aims To review the studies on nursing research capacity and the managerial approaches that have been taken to promote nursing research capacity building in China. Background In the nursing profession, research has become increasingly important worldwide. Over the last two decades, continuous efforts have been devoted to improving nursing research capacity in China. However, the results of these efforts were rarely evaluated in a national scale. Evaluation A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA checklist and guidelines. The literature was sourced from PubMed, CINAHL and two Chinese databases. In total, 19 articles were selected and their results were integrated, compared and analysed. Key issues The development of nursing research has become a recent phenomenon in China. Chinese nurses’ perceptions regarding research were mostly positive. However, their participation in research activity has traditionally been minimal. The factors associated with nursing research capacity in China were nurses’ personal characteristics and organisational contexts. Several effective strategies (e.g. on-the-job research education) have been used to promote nursing research capacity. Conclusion Currently, nursing research capacity in China is low despite hospital-promoting efforts. Systematic approaches need to be implemented to increase nursing research capacity in China in the near future. Implications for nursing management Nursing administrators need to seek innovative strategies to resolve issues (e.g. lack of research time and limited nursing research resources). They also need to strengthen their leadership skills in order to achieve the above objectives.