The use of the arcs software system to store and examine sleep research results

Ready access to research results is essential if nurses are to keep current with the scientific knowledge available to guide practice. Sigma Theta Tau International has supported the development of a software system that facilitates ongoing storage of information from research reports and can be used to gain online access to continually updated databases of research results called "knowledgebases." One such experimental knowledgebase, the Sleep Promotion Knowledgebase, includes studies of correlates of poor sleep in adults as well as sleep interventions and outcomes. The authors describe the creation of the Sleep Promotion Knowledgebase using arcs BUILDER to store information about research reports and the scientific findings they contain. The use of arcs MAPPER to examine sleep promotion interventions also is described. The strengths and limitations of the software system are identified, and the potential uses of arcs to disseminate sleep research results are discussed.