Oncology nursing research priorities: a Canadian perspective

The purpose of the study was to determine oncology nursing research priorities among Canadian oncology nurses. The following two groups of nurses were mailed survey questionnaires: oncology nurse researchers and nurses working in oncology clinical settings who were members of the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO). The questionnaire was based on prior Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) research surveys and the oncology nursing literature. It instructed participants to rank from a list of topics, the five they perceived as research priorities. The response rate was 31% (249/810) for CANO members and 41% (32/78) for nurse researchers. The top five research priorities for CANO members were communication, symptom management, quality of life, pain control/management, and standards of practice. The top five research priorities for nurse researchers were pain control/management, family issues, patient participation in decision making, symptom management, and communication. Many of the same topics appeared in the priority lists of both the CANO members and the nurse researchers. However, the rank ordering of topics was not identical. The lists of CANO members contained both clinical and professional issues, whereas the researchers' lists focused primarily on clinical issues. The findings provide the basis for developing a Canadian national oncology nursing research agenda. In addition, the findings provide direction for practice and education strategic plans as well as information to guide decision making around research funding.