RCN International Nursing Research Conference

Published: 25 March 2009

The RCN International Nursing Research Conference takes place in Cardiff this week (24 to 27 March 2009). The conference aims to bring together colleagues from diverse clinical and academic settings from around the world to participate in critical debate. Keynote speakers at the conference include:

Mr David Benton FRCN, International Council of Nurses
Professor Margaret B Harrison, Queen University, Ontario
Professor Dame Jill Macleod Clark FRCN, University of Southampton
Professor Martin McKee, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Some of the research discussed at the conference includes:

School sexual health clinics could reduce teenage pregnancy rate

Young people are more likely to use sexual health services if they can access them in schools, according to research presented at the conference. Dr Debra Salmon, Reader in Community Health at the University of West England, will be presenting the evaluation of a pilot scheme which took place at 16 schools in the Neighbourhood Renewal Area of Bristol.

Dr Salmon said:

"61% of the young people we surveyed said they attended because it was at school and easy to access and that they would not have attended alternative provision. Providing convenient, accessible services is a great way of ensuring young people have access to the necessary sexual health advice."

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter said:

"The role school nurses can play in reducing the shocking rate of teenage pregnancy and in raising awareness about sexual health issues cannot be underestimated. This evaluation provides further tangible evidence of the immense value they offer. It is crucial that sufficient funding is allocated to increase the numbers of school nurses if we are to beat the rising numbers of STIs and teenage pregnancies."

Parents take children with minor illnesses to A&E for better "self-care" advice

46% of parents who take their children to A&E with minor illness do so to get better practical advice on how to treat their child's condition at home. Dr Pippa Hemingway, Research Fellow at ScHARR, University of Sheffield, surveyed 272 parents of children aged 15 or younger who attended an A&E department with minor illnesses. The main factors which had led parents to take their children to A&E were:

  • 46% needed more advice on how to care for their child's condition.
  • 14% were concerned at a sudden deterioration in a child's illness.
  • 9% expected expertise in the A&E department.
  • 9% felt their own attempts to treat the child had been unsuccessful.
  • 9% wanted to reduce their own anxiety about the child's illness.

Dr Hemingway said:

"Dealing with child illness is a particularly stressful time for any parent. When a child becomes ill, the child's symptoms, the psychological needs of the parents and the need for practical advice can all influence the decision to seek emergency care. Understanding these factors could help in the development of better services and resources to help parents of children with minor illnesses."

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

"In order to provide the best care for all patients, it is important to understand why an increasing number of children with minor illnesses are attending A&E. Parents who take children with minor illnesses to A&E often have their own logical reasons for doing so. By understanding these reasons it should be possible to provide a more appropriate solution to meet these needs and in doing so reduce the pressure on often over-stretched emergency care departments."

Further information 

Go to the RCN International Nursing Research conference website.